Justice Majanja joins list of eminent Kenyans who chose cremation

The late Justice David Majanja has joined a growing list of prominent persons in Kenya who choose cremation over traditional burial during their lifetime.

Majanja passed away a week ago on July 10, 2024, while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital.

A requiem mass will be held on Wednesday morning at the Friends International Centre -Ngong Road as announced earlier by the Judiciary Funeral Committee Chaired by Justice Aggrey Muchelule.

He will be cremated on Wednesday afternoon in Nairobi at a private family function.

A memorial service will also be held at Shinyalu Constituency, Kakamega County ⁠on July 20, 2024.

Over the years, wealthy and prominent politicians, church leaders, and sports personalities have chosen cremation, some against the will of their relatives and clans.

Here are some of them:

1. Charles Njonjo

Former Attorney General Charles Njonjo was cremated on January 2, 2022, barely five hours after he passed on.

2. Bob Collymore

Former Safaricom chief executive officer Bob Collymore was cremated on July 2, 2019, at the Kariokor crematorium in a private function.

He died on July 1, 2019, after a long struggle with blood cancer (leukaemia).

3. Ken Okoth

Former Kibra MP Ken Okoth was cremated on August 3, 2019.

He died at Nairobi Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

4. Jeremiah Kiereini

He was the former Head of Civil Service Jeremiah Kiereini was cremated on May 16, 2019, at a private family function.

5. Jane Kiano

She was the former chairperson of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation. The late Jane Kiano was cremated on October 27, 2018, at the Kariokor crematorium two days after her death.

Kiano died at the Nairobi Hospital after a long battle with lung cancer.

6. Kenneth Matiba

Veteran politician Kenneth Matiba was cremated on April 27, 2018, at the Lang'ata crematorium.

7. John Macharia

The son of Royal Media Services founder SK Macharia was cremated days after Matiba's cremation on May 3, 2018. The businessman died in a road accident along the Southern Bypass in Nairobi.

8. Peter Njiru

The two-time Africa Classic professional golf champion, who died in 2015 after a long struggle with kidney problems, was cremated at the Kariokor crematorium. The 55-year-old player died at the Nazareth Hospital, just a day after he had been admitted to the health facility.

9. Wangari Maathai

The Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai was cremated on October 9, 2011, in a private ceremony at the Kariokor crematorium. The ashes were interred at the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies, by her wishes. She died in Nairobi while undergoing cancer treatment.

10. Joshua Okuthe

Former sports administrator Joshua Okuthe was cremated in July 2009 at Kariokor Crematorium.

11. Manasses Kuria and his wife Mary Kuria

Former Anglican Archbishop Manasses Kuria's cremation stoked debate within the Church in 2005, with a majority of the members voicing strong objections.

His remains were cremated in what his family said was in keeping with his will.

His wife Mary Kuria had also been cremated at the Lang'ata crematorium two days after she died at The Nairobi Hospital on July 6, 2002, at the age of 73.

12. Peter Habenga Okondo

The Kanu-era Cabinet minister Peter Okondo was cremated in 1996.

The cremation caused division between his family and his Banyala clan.