The Nakuru County Government has advised residents to consider cremating their deceased relatives as available cemeteries lack sufficient space.
According to the Nakuru Public Health Officer Samuel King’ori, cremation is the only option that is remaining after the county government unsuccessfully sought to purchase alternative land to be used as a cemetery.
The lack of burial space at the Nakuru North and South cemeteries prompted the county government to search for new land to set aside for burial.
“We have been searching for a cemetery land to purchase and but despite the fact that we had to increase the money set aside for the exercise from Sh84 million to Sh114 million we have not secured any place where we can set up the cemetery,” he said
The health officer has said that many land owners declined to sell their land expressing fears of living near a cemetery.
“Most people are afraid of selling their land as they would not want to live near a cemetery because they associate cemeteries with some other forces. It has also been hard identifying land with the type of soil that is required by the law,” Kingori said.
Health CeC Dr Mungai Kabii, declared the Nakuru North and South cemeteries full though a notice issued on June 2.