NAIROBI, Kenya
Nairobi County has followed Kiambu in hiking burial fees within its boundaries, making funerals in the capital an expensive affair. To die in Nairobi has now become almost four times more expensive than Kiambu where the county financial bill has proposed a two-fold hike in fees for burial of the dead.
Nairobi County silently hiked the same fees by almost 40 per cent two months ago. according to the Nairobi County Financial Bill, which takes effect on November 1, 2013, the cost of burial at Lang’ata Cemetery has shot up by Sh7,600. To bury an adult in a permanent grave, families will now pay Sh25,000 up from Sh17,400, a child Sh15,000 up from Sh10,700 and an infant Sh12,000 up from Sh5,000.
The charges vary between those for permanent and for temporary graves. With grave reservations, irrespective of age, the cost is Sh30,000. Permanent graves have been classified in two categories, Area A and Area B. To inter the dead in Area B is cheaper by Sh5,000 for county residents who die within Nairobi and Sh10,000 higher for citizens dying outside the city.
In Kiambu dying outside the county will cost more that dying within, as charges vary. The Finance Bill for Nairobi County, published on September 6 , 2013, after the County Assembly passed it, indicates that if a person dies outside Nairobi and is buried at Lang’ata, the family will part with Sh25,000 for adults up from Sh19,600, Sh20,000 for children, up from 18,000 and Sh15,000 for infants, from Sh6,000.
The county government has also introduced a new exclusive cemetery at City Park, with those burying adults paying Sh70,000, children Sh50,000 and infants Sh30,000. To use the chapel and the Lang’ata crematorium will cost Sh2,000. However, families opting for temporary graves for those who die within Nairobi will have to part with Sh7,000 up from Sh3,400, children Sh4,000 from Sh2,100 and for infants Sh2,000 from Sh1500.
To exhume a body would cost Sh50,000 up from Sh40,000 for adults, Sh30,000 and Sh25,000 for children and infants, respectively. Cremation of adults remains a cheaper option at Sh13,500 up from Sh9,000, Sh6000 and Sh4,000 for children and infants respectively. Shipping cremated remains stored in urns will cost Sh11,250 with scattering of ashes in the ocean or elsewhere (if services offered by the county) going for Sh1,500 and Sh900 for cremation certificate and ash collection.
Already, the bill has faced it first hurdle with the Matatu Welfare Association moving to court to block the seasonal parking fee from Sh2,000 per month to Sh5,000, which are contained in the same Bill. According to the new by-law published in the County Gazette a fortnight ago, 14 to 42 seater matatus are required to pay Sh8,000 up from Sh 3,000 while 43-62 seater buses will pay Sh10,000 up from Sh4,000. The county is also accused of raising fees for 1-13 seater matatus from Sh2,200 to Sh5,000 per month.
The debate over the hike in burial fees has seen six members of the Kiambu County Assembly record statements with Thika police over death threats they have received for their stand against the proposed Finance Bill. Although the Kiambu County Government has disputed reports that it intends to introduce higher tax for burying the dead, tension remains high with members perceived as op- posing it claiming they are being threatened.
The six are Gitothua ward representative Patrick Chege, Martin Wachira (Riabai), James Njenga (Kiambu Town), Emily Warutere (Nominated), Kimani Gacihi (Mang’u) and Elizabeth Muthoni of Kamenu Ward. According to the County Executive Committee Member for Finance Mary Nguli the proposal is to impose fees for burials taking place at the county cemeteries. According to the Kiambu County Finance Bill, which is yet to be passed, it will cost Sh4,500 to bury an adult at a public cemetery, Sh3,000 for children and infants Sh2,500.
– THE PEOPLE
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