Uasin Gishu leaders demand halt to exhumation at historic Eldoret Christian Cemetery
The cemetery also has a documented place in Kenya’s legal history. A 1992 High Court judgment, Mjomba v Malilo,
A photo collage of Hon. Wanjohi at the Eldoret Christian Cemetery, where ongoing construction works for the Kipchoge Keino Stadium are taking place
By Hubzmedia News Desk
A section of leaders in Uasin Gishu County has called on the national government to suspend further exhumation of remains at the historic Eldoret Christian Cemetery, demanding greater transparency, consultation with affected families and clarification of the legal basis for the exercise.
The leaders, led by Uasin Gishu County Assembly Minority Leader and Huruma Ward MCA Kimani Wanjohi, say the cemetery is facing growing threats from encroachment, vandalism and developments associated with ongoing works around the Kipchoge Keino Stadium.
While supporting the ongoing stadium construction, which is expected to enhance Eldoret’s sporting infrastructure and support major national events, Wanjohi said development should not come at the expense of the rights and dignity of families whose relatives are buried at the cemetery.
“We support the ongoing government construction of the Kipchoge Keino Stadium, but the law must not be suspended, especially where the remains of people buried at the Christian cemetery are concerned,” Wanjohi said.
He called for proper public participation and engagement with affected families before any further exhumation is undertaken.
According to Wanjohi, the government should make public the legal documents authorising the exercise and demonstrate that the process is being conducted within the law.
“We are asking the government to come clean on this exercise. There must be proper public participation, and the relevant court documents should be made available before bodies are exhumed. Families whose loved ones are buried here must also be engaged,” he said.
Wanjohi warned that failure to adequately involve affected families could trigger legal action.
“If the families of the bereaved are not supported in moving the remains of their loved ones, we will seek a court order to that effect,” he said.
Historic burial ground
The controversy has drawn renewed attention to the historical significance of the cemetery, which has been associated with some of Eldoret’s early residents and prominent members of the community.
Among those cited by the leaders is Stephanus Petrus Ernest “Fanie” Kruger, who is documented in historical records as an Eldoret-area farmer. A historical database records Kruger as a farmer in Eldoret, while other historical accounts document the long association of the Kruger family with the region.
The cemetery also has a documented place in Kenya’s legal history. A 1992 High Court judgment, Mjomba v Malilo, referred to the remains of a woman who had been buried at the Eldoret Christian Cemetery, providing independent evidence of the cemetery’s existence and use as a burial ground decades ago.
The historical records add weight to calls by local leaders and cemetery caretakers for the site and its graves to be treated with due consideration.
Wanjohi also raised concerns over previous attempts to acquire or interfere with the cemetery land, saying the current development should not be used as a pretext for irregular acquisition.
“In the past, there have been attempts to grab this land. We hope that this land is not being grabbed under the pretext of the ongoing Kipchoge Keino Stadium construction,” he said.
He further issued a warning to politicians and officials involved in decisions affecting the cemetery.
“If you do not do justice, the spirit of those you disturb will haunt you,” Wanjohi warned.
Caretakers raise livelihood concerns
The concerns have also been echoed by people who have worked to maintain the cemetery.
Victor Mwanzali, who said he has worked at the cemetery for about eight years, called for the interests of bereaved families to be placed at the centre of any decision concerning the graves.
“The dead and their families deserve justice. While we support the Kipchoge Keino Stadium construction, we urge that the families be considered,” Mwanzali said.
Another caretaker, identified as Mbutupu, said the cemetery has also provided a modest source of livelihood for people involved in its maintenance.
According to Mbutupu, families of people buried at the site have contributed money towards maintenance, including upkeep and preservation of graves.
“We have been getting some money from families of those buried here. We would use it for maintenance and even have titles on the gravesites. Once the burial site is demolished, what are we going to have? How will we feed our families?” he asked.
He urged the government to consider the impact of any decision on the people who have depended on the cemetery for their livelihoods.
Development versus heritage
The dispute comes as Eldoret continues to undergo major infrastructure development, with the Kipchoge Keino Stadium forming part of the city’s wider sporting profile.
The stadium is an important sporting facility in the North Rift, a region internationally associated with Kenya’s distance-running tradition. Historical accounts describe the facility as a significant athletics venue in Eldoret.
However, the emerging dispute highlights a broader question facing rapidly developing urban centres: how governments can pursue infrastructure projects while protecting burial grounds, historical sites and the rights of affected communities.
For the leaders, the issue is not opposition to development but the manner in which the process is being undertaken.
Wanjohi said government agencies should provide clear information on the number of graves affected, the legal authority for the exhumations, the proposed relocation arrangements and how families will participate in decisions affecting the remains of their relatives.
The calls also raise questions that require clarification from the relevant government authorities, including which agency authorised the exhumations, whether court or other statutory approvals were obtained, how affected families were notified, and what arrangements have been made for the respectful reburial or relocation of remains.
As construction of the stadium progresses, affected families and local leaders are now demanding that the government balance the public interest in infrastructure development with the legal, cultural and emotional significance of the historic burial ground.
The government has yet to publicly respond to the specific allegations and demands raised by the leaders in the statements cited for this report. Hubzmedia could not independently establish from publicly accessible records the precise legal status of the cemetery, the full number of graves affected or the complete authorisation trail for the ongoing exhumation exercise.
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