From Njambi Koikai to Mbotela: Famous Kenyans buried at Lang'ata Cemetery

Lang’ata Cemetery, Nairobi’s main public burial ground, is not only a site of controversy over overcrowding and environmental risk — it is also the final resting place of some of Kenya’s most notable public figures.

Leonard Mambo Mbotela

The legendary broadcaster renowned for the iconic Je, Huu Ni Ungwana? radio show, died in February 2025 while receiving treatment in Nairobi. His burial at Lang’ata sparked a national conversation, with many surprised that such a towering figure would not be interred in a rural homestead. His family clarified that Mbotela had no ancestral home in Kenya, as his ancestral roots are in Malawi.

‘Mzee Ojwang’

Benson Wanjau, better known as Mzee Ojwang, was the much-loved comedic actor best known for his role in the Vitimbi show on KBC, where he starred alongside Mama Kayai (Mary Kavere) as her on-screen husband. He, too, was laid to rest at Lang’ata Cemetery.

Janet Wanja

Another prominent figure buried at the cemetery is Janet Wanja, the celebrated volleyball icon who passed away on December 26, 2024 after a valiant fight against gallbladder cancer. Her funeral was marked with solemn tributes from across the sporting fraternity.

Njambi Koikai

Also interred at Lang’ata is Njambi Koikai, the popular reggae enthusiast and advocate for women’s reproductive health. Njambi who battled endometriosis for years died in 2024 and was buried beside her grandmother in a moving ceremony that drew mourners from across the country. Known for her infectious energy and tireless activism, Njambi’s legacy lives on far beyond the reggae airwaves.

Restoring dignity?

In an effort to restore dignity to the cemetery, Governor Johnson Sakaja ordered a clean-up of the grounds two years ago. His directive to the county environment unit included clearing overgrown bushes, weeding, collecting litter, mowing, and levelling uneven patches.

“I issued a directive to the environment team to clear and tidy the cemetery. We must ensure that we provide dignity to all — including the departed,” read a statement from the governor’s office.

That team was the first dedicated unit tasked with rehabilitating the cemetery. However, despite the announcement, the site remains largely neglected with overgrown grass, wandering cattle, and scavengers.

Lang’ata Cemetery was established in 1956 as Nairobi’s permanent burial site. Temporary grave burials began in 1967, following the declaration that Mbagathi Road Cemetery had reached capacity.

Today, silent occupants include the celebrated, the forgotten, and the ordinary — all laid to rest beneath a city that is still grappling with how best to honour its dead.