Lang’ata Cemetery, located along Lang’ata Road in Nairobi, has long been a significant final resting place for many Kenyans, including notable personalities who have made substantial contributions to the nation’s cultural and social fabric.
Opened in 1958, the cemetery has become the final resting place for tens of thousands, as many families opt for burial there rather than in their ancestral villages due to the prohibitive costs of transport and funeral expenses.
Celebrities are no exception, as their families often choose to bury them in a more accessible location to reduce costs. In some cases, they may lack suitable land upcountry, making a city burial the more practical option.
Here are some Kenyan celebrities buried in Lang’ata Cemetery:
Mzee Ojwang
Lang’ata Cemetery is the final resting place of legendary comedian Benson Wanjau, popularly known as Mzee Ojwang Hatari. Famous for his role in the television show Vitimbi, Mzee Ojwang entertained countless households with his comedic banter, often engaging in humorous disputes with his on-screen wife, Mama Kayai, played by Augusta Wanjiru.
Following his passing in 2015 due to pneumonia, he was laid to rest at Lang’ata Cemetery, honoring his contributions to Kenya’s entertainment industry.
Njambi Koikai
In June 2024, the nation mourned the loss of media personality and reggae enthusiast Mary Njambi Koikai, affectionately known as Jahmby. Jahmby was renowned for her vibrant presence in the media and her advocacy for women’s health, particularly in raising awareness about endometriosis—a condition she battled for years.
She succumbed to complications related to the disease on June 3, 2024, while receiving treatment at Nairobi Hospital.
Her family chose to bury her alongside her grandmother at the Lang’ata Cemetery on June 14, 2024, honoring her impactful life and legacy.
Janet Wanja
Kenya bid farewell to volleyball icon Janet Wanja in December 2024. With an illustrious career in the sport, she represented Kenya in the 2004 Athens Olympics and played key roles in various international tournaments. After retiring as a player, she transitioned into coaching, with her last major role as Malkia Strikers’ trainer during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She passed away on December 26, 2024, after a courageous battle with gallbladder cancer. Her family laid her to rest at Lang’ata Cemetery, in an event attended by notable Kenyan sportsmen and women in commemoration of her significant contributions to Kenyan sports.
Leonard Mambo Mbotela
In February 2025, the nation was thrown into mourning following the loss of veteran journalist and broadcaster Leonard Mambo Mbotela, whose voice became synonymous with Kenyan radio through his iconic program “Je, Huu Ni Ungwana?”
He had been receiving treatment at Nairobi West Hospital, where he had been admitted two weeks before his passing.
His family chose Lang’ata Cemetery as his final resting place, a decision that sparked discussions about the need for a dedicated Heroes’ Corner to honor distinguished individuals.
However, his family clarified that Mbotela did not have a rural home in Kenya, as his ancestral roots trace back to Malawi. Transporting his body to Mpanda, a village on the shores of Lake Malawi, would have incurred additional costs that the family could not afford.
Jaffar Jackson
Photo: Courtesy/ Nairobi Leo
Jackson Jaffar was a former M-Net Idol and prominent Kenyan stylist who passed away in January 2024. Jackson succumbed to complications arising from a stomach infection
Jaffar Jackson described himself as a Stylist, Choreographer Extraordinaire, Wardrobe Consultant and an Art Lover and was a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Kenya.
Purity Wambui, Wife to comedian Makokha
Photo: Courtesy/Tuko
Vioja Mahakamani actor Alphonse Makokha’s wife, Purity Wambui, passed away in June 2024 after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was laid to rest at Lang’ata Cemetery, a decision that raised questions since Makokha owns a home in Vihiga County.
Lang’ata Cemetery is not just a burial site, but a place that honors the legacies of those who have significantly shaped Kenya’s culture and society. It remains a lasting tribute to the nation’s beloved icons.
