Quick answer
Nairobi's public cemeteries are Lang'ata, Forest Road, Pangani, Mutuini, Uthiru, Southlands, Kariokor Christian, Ruai and a site near the National Police Service. At Lang'ata, a permanent adult grave costs KSh 30,500 for Nairobi citizens (KSh 40,000 from outside Nairobi), a temporary adult grave KSh 7,000 and adult cremation KSh 20,000.
Updated 18 October 2026
Nairobi has one large public cemetery that most families still ask for, Lang’ata, plus a group of smaller county, community and faith cemeteries spread across the city. This guide lists them, sets out the official Lang’ata grave and cremation charges from the Nairobi City County Finance Act, explains how to book a burial through City Hall, and covers the county’s plans for new burial land.
In this guide
Cemeteries in Nairobi at a glance
| Cemetery | Area | Who runs it or uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Lang’ata Cemetery and Crematorium | Lang’ata Road, next to Nairobi National Park | Nairobi City County, open to the public |
| Forest Road Cemetery | Forest Road, Pangani end | County listed; includes a section set aside for the Jewish community |
| Pangani Cemetery | Pangani | County listed, largely community-run |
| Kariokor Christian Cemetery | Kariokor, Starehe | County listed, largely community-run |
| Mutuini Cemetery | Mutuini, Dagoretti | County listed, largely community-run |
| Uthiru Cemetery | Uthiru, on the Kiambu border | County listed, largely community-run |
| Southlands Cemetery | Southlands, Lang’ata | County listed, largely community-run |
| Ruai Cemetery | Ruai, eastern Nairobi | County listed, largely community-run |
| City Park Cemetery | Off Limuru Road and Forest Road, near City Park | Historic cemetery; the Finance Act lists “special graves” here and at Forest Road |
| Nairobi (Quarry Road) Muslim Cemetery | Quarry Road, near Kariokor | Muslim community |
| Nairobi War Cemetery | Ngong Road | Commonwealth War Graves Commission, military graves |
The county lists nine cemeteries under its public health department: Lang’ata, Forest Road, Pangani, Mutuini, Uthiru, Southlands, Kariokor Christian, Ruai and a site on land near the National Police Service. Public Health Chief Officer Tom Nyakaba told the County Assembly in July 2025 that many of the smaller ones are community-run and that the county wants to bring them under one system, which it estimated would free up about 20,000 burial spaces.
1. Lang’ata Cemetery
Lang’ata opened in 1958 and has taken more than 157,000 burials, including national leaders. It was declared full more than two decades ago, but it still handles about 30 burials a week because there is no ready alternative and it is easy to reach by public and private transport. The cemetery has a permanent section and a temporary section, and a separate area for Muslim burials. It also houses the county’s only public crematorium.
Families should know about the pressure on space. Graves are sometimes reused, which Nyakaba said is allowed under public health rules, and Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor raised concerns in Parliament about overcrowding and shallow graves near the national park. If a permanent grave matters to your family, ask the county office what is available before you fix the burial date.
Lang’ata Cemetery grave charges
These are the charges in the schedule of the Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2023. City Hall kept them unchanged from the previous rates, and the county’s 2025 Finance Bill did not propose new cemetery charges. The county passed a further Finance Act in July 2026, so confirm the figure on your invoice at the City Mortuary before paying.
| Grave type | Within Nairobi | From outside Nairobi |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent grave, adult citizen | KSh 30,500 | KSh 40,000 |
| Permanent grave, child citizen (1 to 15 years) | KSh 22,500 | KSh 28,500 |
| Permanent grave, infant citizen (under 11 months) | KSh 15,500 | KSh 21,500 |
| Permanent grave, non-citizen adult | KSh 50,000 | |
| Permanent grave, non-citizen child | KSh 35,000 | |
| Permanent grave, non-citizen infant | KSh 27,500 | |
| Temporary grave, adult | KSh 7,000 | |
| Temporary grave, child | KSh 4,000 | |
| Temporary grave, infant | KSh 2,000 | |
Other cemetery and crematorium charges
| Service | Adult | Child | Infant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special grave (Forest Road, City Park) | KSh 70,000 | KSh 50,000 | KSh 30,000 |
| Exhumation | KSh 50,000 | KSh 30,000 | KSh 25,000 |
| Grave reopening | KSh 50,000 | KSh 35,000 | KSh 25,000 |
| Cremation at Lang’ata Crematorium | KSh 20,000 | KSh 16,000 | KSh 14,000 |
Grave preservation is a one-off KSh 50,000 and grave construction is KSh 7,000. The crematorium chapel costs KSh 2,000 an hour. Cremation rose from KSh 16,800 for an adult under the 2023 Act.
City Mortuary charges
Many families who bury at Lang’ata use the county’s City Mortuary on Ngong Road. Under the same Finance Act, preservation costs KSh 500 a day for the first ten days for bodies from Nairobi and KSh 700 a day after that, or KSh 700 a day for bodies from outside Nairobi. Embalming is KSh 3,000 for an adult and KSh 2,500 for a child or infant, and washing and dressing an adult from Nairobi costs KSh 2,800. Viewing is KSh 500, and the burial permit is free.
How to book a burial at Lang’ata
- Get the burial permit. The permit is issued when the death is registered. The county lists it as free.
- Go to the Funeral Superintendent. Nairobi City County’s help desk directory sends enquiries about burial at Lang’ata to the Funeral Superintendent at the City Mortuary on Ngong Road.
- Choose the grave type. Decide between a permanent or temporary grave, and confirm the residence category, since families from outside Nairobi pay more for permanent graves.
- Pay the county bill. Pay through the county’s official channels and keep the receipt, which you will need at the cemetery gate.
- Agree the date and time. Confirm the burial slot with the cemetery office so that the grave is prepared in time.
Funeral costs add up quickly. If you are planning ahead, our list of the top insurance companies in Kenya is a starting point for comparing funeral and last expense cover, and our guide to registering with SHA explains what the Social Health Authority covers while a family member is in hospital.
New burial land for Nairobi
In July 2025 Nyakaba told the County Assembly’s health committee that the county had secured 100 acres at Kamiti and 50 acres at Embakasi for new cemeteries. The Kenya Prisons Service publicly denied that it had agreed to give up land at Kamiti Maximum Prison, so treat that site as unconfirmed. A 48-acre parcel bought in Mavoko, Machakos County, before devolution remains unused because it sits outside Nairobi and the title is not in the county’s name. Earlier plans to buy land in Kajiado and to take forest land near Lang’ata also stalled. Until a new site opens, Lang’ata and the smaller cemeteries remain the only options inside the city.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a grave at Lang’ata Cemetery?
A permanent adult grave costs KSh 30,500 for a Kenyan citizen from Nairobi and KSh 40,000 for one from outside Nairobi. A temporary adult grave costs KSh 7,000.
Is Lang’ata Cemetery full?
It was declared full more than two decades ago but still takes about 30 burials a week, and some graves are reused under public health rules.
How much does cremation cost in Nairobi?
Cremation at the county’s Lang’ata Crematorium costs KSh 20,000 for an adult, KSh 16,000 for a child and KSh 14,000 for an infant.
Who do I contact to book a burial at Lang’ata?
The Funeral Superintendent at the City Mortuary on Ngong Road handles burials at Lang’ata, according to Nairobi City County’s help desk directory.
How many cemeteries does Nairobi have?
The county lists nine public cemeteries, led by Lang’ata, and there are also faith and historic cemeteries such as the Quarry Road Muslim Cemetery, City Park Cemetery and the Nairobi War Cemetery.
Prefer WhatsApp? Follow Business Radar on WhatsApp
Weekly, free. We only use your email for this newsletter and you can unsubscribe in one click. Privacy policy.
