Crematoriums in Kenya: A Complete Guide to Locations, Costs and Booking

Last researched: October 2026. Prices and contacts change often, so always confirm with the crematorium before making arrangements.

Cremation is still a minority choice in Kenya, but it is growing, especially in Nairobi where public cemetery space is almost gone. This guide lists the known crematoriums in Kenya, explains who runs them, what they reportedly charge, how to book, and what the process looks like. Most of Kenya's crematoriums are run by Hindu community associations, and many accept people of all faiths.

Quick Overview

One widely cited report says Kenya has about 18 cremation centres. No single official register exists, so the list below covers the crematoriums that are named consistently in Kenyan media and directories. There may be smaller or newer facilities not listed here.

Nairobi

Nairobi has the most cremation activity in the country, and families here have two main choices.

1. Lang'ata Cemetery Crematorium

• Location: Inside Lang'ata Cemetery, Lang'ata Road, Nairobi.
• Operator: Nairobi City County Government.
• History: The crematorium opened in 1958 as a small brick building with a tall chimney at one end of the cemetery.
• Charges (reported): Figures vary by source and year. Several reports give about Ksh 16,800 for an adult and Ksh 12,000 for a child, and a 2026 guide lists Ksh 16,500 for adults and Ksh 12,000 for children. One 2022 analysis cited a much higher figure of Ksh 50,000 for an adult. Treat the county's current fee schedule as the final word.
• Booking: Bookings have traditionally been made at the City Mortuary, where families can also arrange the burial permit and the administrative approval needed.
• Notes: Families can reportedly choose between an open kiln, where relatives watch, and a closed kiln. Lang'ata is the public option most associated with the county's push for cremation because the cemetery itself has been full for years. Former presidential candidate Kenneth Matiba was cremated here in April 2018.

2. Kariokor Hindu Crematorium

• Location: Between Kariokor and Gikomba Market, Nairobi. The gate is easy to miss because it carries little signage.
• Operator: The Hindu community, with bookings handled through the Hindu Union offices on Ronald Ngala Street.
• History: Opened in 1933 and described as the best known crematorium in Kenya. It is also described as the largest, handling most of the country's cremations.
• Facilities: Open-fire furnaces under covered sheds, where the body is placed on a pyre with wood, sawdust and ghee, plus an electric furnace.
• Charges (reported): Older reports give a flat Ksh 10,000 for Hindu community members and Ksh 22,500 for non-Hindus, with some listings quoting up to Ksh 30,000 for non-Hindus. A later Nation feature reported Ksh 50,000 for non-Hindus regardless of whether the wood fire or electric furnace is used, with lower rates for Hindus. A separate analysis quoted about Ksh 13,000 for adults and Ksh 6,000 for children. Because the figures differ so much, ask for the current rate in writing.
• Duration: Cremation at the site is reported to take roughly an hour and a half, with the body burned inside the coffin in line with Ministry of Health rules.
• Notable cremations: Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai (2011), former Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore (2019) and former head of the civil service Jeremiah Kiereini.

Other options around Nairobi

Nairobi's county health executive has said that crematoriums in Thika and Machakos can also be used by Nairobi residents, in addition to privately owned facilities in the city.

Mombasa

Cremation in modern Kenya began with the Hindu community that arrived during the building of the Uganda Railway. The Mombasa Hindu Union, founded in 1899, built the first crematorium in Mombasa in 1904 near the Shivalaya Temple, serving Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. Mombasa's crematorium use is still strongly tied to the Hindu community. In September 2024, industrialist and philanthropist Hasmukh Patel was cremated at the Buxton Hindu crematorium after a procession through the city. If you need cremation in Mombasa, contact the Hindu temples or community halls directly to confirm availability for non-members.

Nakuru

Nakuru's only crematorium is the Hindu crematorium next to the Nakuru South Cemetery. Nakuru's two public cemeteries have been described as full for more than a decade, with graves being reopened for second burials, which is one reason local officials and commentators have raised cremation as an option. Historical accounts say crematoriums were set up in Nakuru and Nairobi in 1907.

Kisumu

The Kisumu Hindu Crematorium sits next to the Ismailia Cemetery along the Kisumu-Busia Road. It is reported to accept non-Hindu clients. Kisumu's main Mamboleo cemetery has also faced congestion and encroachment, so interest in alternatives is growing.

Eldoret

The Hindu Crematorium in Eldoret is in the West Indies area of the town and is described as the only cremation centre in Eldoret.

Thika

The Hindu Crematorium in Thika is located near the Thika War Cemetery. Thika is also home to the General Kago Funeral Home, a large public mortuary serving Kiambu, Murang'a and Machakos, which is useful to know if you are arranging body transfers.

Nyeri

The Hindu Crematorium in Nyeri is near the Chania River and is described as the only cremation centre in the town.

Machakos

Machakos is named by Nairobi County officials as having a crematorium, but little public detail is available on its operator, fees or booking process. Call the Machakos County health offices or a local funeral home to confirm.

How Much Does Cremation Cost in Kenya?

Costs depend on the crematorium, whether you belong to the Hindu community, and what the funeral home bundles into its package.

Compare this with a conventional burial. A standard Christian funeral can run into the hundreds of thousands of shillings, and a Nation reporter found that burying a loved one upcountry costs more than cremating in Nairobi. At Lang'ata Cemetery, a permanent adult grave for a Nairobi resident was listed at Ksh 30,500 and Ksh 40,000 for someone from outside the county.

How to Book a Cremation

1. Get the paperwork. Crematoriums will not proceed without a burial permit and a death certificate. The hospital or mortuary can guide you on the permit.
2. Choose the crematorium. Consider religion and community rules, distance, and fees.
3. Book the slot. For Lang'ata, bookings have been made through the City Mortuary. For the Hindu crematoriums, contact the Hindu community offices, for example the Hindu Union on Ronald Ngala Street in Nairobi.
4. Arrange transport and a coffin. The body is generally cremated inside the coffin in line with Health Ministry regulations, and funeral homes can supply both.
5. Hold the farewell. A short prayer session is usually held when the hearse arrives, then the body is wheeled to the cremation chamber.
6. Collect the ashes. Families can wait and collect the ashes the same day or return the next day. If they are not collected within a set time, they may be dispersed on the crematorium grounds.

What Happens During Cremation

At the Hindu crematorium, wood and sawdust are laid beneath the pyre, logs are placed on the body, and ghee is sprinkled to help it burn. The closest male relative, such as a husband or eldest son, usually lights the fire. The body is exposed to extreme heat, and the remains afterwards weigh roughly a quarter to half a kilogram. Where families choose, the ashes are placed in an urn they provide. Hindu tradition reportedly does not allow children under about ten years to be cremated, so check the crematorium's rules if you are arranging a child's funeral.

Why More Kenyans Are Considering Cremation

• Shortage of cemetery land. Lang'ata Cemetery has been full for decades, with graves reused and bodies piled on top of each other, according to Nairobi's county health executive, who has said cremation is the only realistic option for the city.
• Cost. Cremation can cost far less than a burial that involves hiring transport and hosting mourners upcountry.
• Environment. Advocates, including Rotary members, argue that cremation reduces the need for hardwood coffins and so helps limit deforestation.
• Urbanisation. Many city families no longer have ancestral land to return to.

Cultural and Religious Attitudes

Cremation remains taboo for many Kenyan communities, and some residents interviewed by the Nation described it as against their beliefs. Because Hindus run most crematoriums, cremation is often associated with Hinduism, although Christians, Buddhists and others also use these facilities. Some church leaders, such as the Mombasa Diocese's Vicar General, have said the Catholic Church has no objection, while other denominations prefer burial. Cremation has been most visible among prominent and well-off Kenyans, including Wangari Maathai, Kenneth Matiba, Bob Collymore, Charles Njonjo and Binyavanga Wainaina.

Tips for Families

• Call the crematorium first and ask for the current fee in writing, since published prices differ widely.
• Ask whether the fee covers the coffin, firewood, an urn and ash collection.
• Confirm whether non-Hindus can use the site and whether any dress or conduct rules apply.
• Check opening days and times, since slots can fill up, especially at Kariokor.
• Tell your funeral home early so they can coordinate the permit, transport and booking.

Kenya's crematoriums are few, concentrated in Nairobi and the larger towns, and mostly run by Hindu community associations. For most families, the practical choice in Nairobi is between the county-run Lang'ata Crematorium and the Kariokor Hindu Crematorium. Outside Nairobi, options exist in Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Thika, Nyeri and Machakos, but you should confirm details by phone before committing. As burial space tightens, expect more public discussion and, potentially, new facilities.

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