The County that is forgetting its dead: How urban renewal in Kisii has left the dead behind
Cities are usually built with the living in mind. In more progressive societies, however, planners also make room for the dead. Not in Kisii. The county’s latest urban renewal drive has created a troubling contradiction: as authorities transform Nyambera public cemetery into a modern market intended to accommodate street traders, the dead are effectively being [...] The post The County that is…
Kisii, a county in Kenya, is grappling with a troubling contradiction as it undergoes urban renewal. Authorities are transforming Nyambera public cemetery into a modern market for street traders, effectively sidelining the dead in the city's plans. For the traders, the project offers order, dignity, and economic opportunity. However, for bereaved families, it presents a painful dilemma.
The county may soon have a modern market but no adequate alternative public cemetery, highlighting the gap between rapid urban growth and the infrastructure required to support the full cycle of urban life.
John Getuma, whose family had to find a burial site after selling most of their land, expresses the shame and pain of the situation. Mary Keginka, a trader and town resident, notes that the town has not had a functional cemetery for over four years, causing frustration among families. The issue stems from the acute land pressure in Kisii, with competing demands for every valuable parcel of land. Cemeteries, which do not generate revenue, rarely win the contest for land.
Governor Simba Arati has allocated funds for acquiring alternative cemetery land at Nyatieko but lost them through fictitious purchases and court battles. He has urged residents to consider cremation as an alternative, but it remains unfamiliar to many families, especially in a predominantly Christian society where burial traditions are deeply rooted.
Dr Eric Onsongo, a Kisii University professor, emphasizes that a public cemetery should be treated as essential urban infrastructure, planning for where people will eventually rest.
The push to create a modern market is understandable, as Kisii's street-vending problem has become increasingly difficult to ignore. However, urban renewal inevitably creates winners and losers. While moving traders into formal stalls could improve the town centre and commercial buildings, it is crucial to plan for the full cycle of urban life, including burial space.
Kisii must now make room for its dead, ensuring that the transformation of Nyambera cemetery into a modern market becomes a symbol of the county's ambitions and a warning about the consequences of prioritising immediate economic value over essential public needs.
Written by urgent.news from KahawaTungu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
