Lang’ata Cemetery has long been Nairobi’s primary public burial site, with numerous prominent Kenyans laid to rest there for various reasons. Now, legendary radio presenter Leonard Mambo Mbotela will join this list, sparking a heated debate over his final resting place.
Mbotela’s planned burial at Lang’ata Cemetery on Saturday, February 15, has drawn mixed reactions. Many believe his significant contributions to Kenyan journalism and history deserve a more prestigious location.
Veteran media personality Fred Obachi Machoka expressed disappointment, arguing that someone of Mbotela’s stature should not be buried in a public cemetery. However, journalist Yassin Juma explained that Mbotela’s ancestral home is in Malawi, making it impractical to transport his body there for burial.
“If you want him to be buried at his ancestral home, that would mean flying his body to the village of Mpanda on the shores of Lake Malawi,” Juma said.
Mbotela’s family traces its roots to the Yao ethnic group in Malawi. His ancestor, Mzee Mbotela, was a freed slave rescued from an Arab slave dhow in the 1860s. After gaining freedom, he married Ida Halima, a fellow Malawian from the Kamtunda clan in Mpanda. Their son, Juma Mbotela, married Grace David, a freed slave from Seychelles who had been owned by the Sultan of Zanzibar.
From this lineage came Leonard Mbotela, whose father James Mbotela had no direct ancestral ties to Kenya. Given these circumstances, Lang’ata Cemetery became the practical burial choice for Mbotela’s family.
Prominent Kenyans Buried at Lang’ata Cemetery
Mbotela will join many well-known figures already laid to rest at Lang’ata Cemetery, whether by family decision, legal reasons, or convenience.
- Janet Wanja – Malkia Strikers volleyball legend, buried in a private ceremony on January 3, 2025, after passing from gallbladder cancer.
- Jahmby Koikai – Popular radio host and DJ, buried on June 14, 2024, following complications from endometriosis.
- Yusuf Haji – Former Garissa Senator, buried on February 15, 2021, in line with Islamic traditions.
- Kullow Maalim – Banisa MP, buried at Lang’ata after his death in March 2023.
- Mzee Ojwang – Legendary comedian Benson Wanjau, known as Mzee Ojwang, laid to rest at Lang’ata in 2015.
Why Lang’ata Cemetery is a Popular Choice
There are several reasons why Lang’ata, and other public cemeteries, remain a popular burial site:
- Legal and Organized: Public cemeteries offer official documentation, preventing land ownership disputes.
- Accessibility: The central location makes it easy for family and friends to visit the graves.
- Limited Space at Home: Many urban families lack ancestral land for burials, making public cemeteries the only option.
- Urban Migration: As more people migrate to cities, fewer are buried in their rural homes.
- Government Regulations: Some areas restrict home burials for health and safety reasons.
- Family Disputes: Conflicts over burial sites can make neutral sites like Lang’ata a practical choice.
- Inheritance Issues: Disagreements over land ownership can prevent burial on family property.
