This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
Graphic Details Of How Cremation Is Done In Kenya ¶
Published on July 3, 2019
Bob Collymore, the late Safaricom CEO, had a clear understanding of his impending death and chose to focus on the things that mattered most to him. In a poignant quote, he said, 'Death is inevitable and I have made the decision not to cling on the thought of it because it will eventually come; I just do not know when. I have chosen to focus on the things that are more important to me. Now I know it’s kind of impossible for somebody to live for 200 years.'
Collymore's decision to opt for cremation was in line with his wishes, and his body was cremated in a private ceremony a day after his death. This trend is not unique to Collymore, as many wealthy and prominent individuals in Kenya are increasingly opting for cremation over traditional burial ceremonies.
According to Njoka, a journalist and expert in cremation, the cremation process involves several steps. The first step is to obtain written consent from the family of the deceased, followed by the preheating of the cremation chamber. The body is then quickly transferred to the chamber through a mechanized door to avoid heat loss.
During incineration, the body is exposed to a column of flames produced by a furnace fueled by natural gas, oils, propane, etc. The body is doused in a flammable substance, typically kerosene or diesel, and the container burns down. The heat then dries the body, burns the skin and hair, contracts and chars the muscles, vaporizes the soft tissues, and calcifies the bones.
The cremation remains are usually pasty white in color and are transferred to a cremation urn, which is given to the relative or representative of the deceased. The cremation fee for an adult in Kenya ranges from Sh12,800 to Sh100,000, depending on the location and method adopted.
While cremation may seem like a quick and efficient way to dispose of the deceased, it is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. In Kenya, there are four durations cremations can take: 8 hours, 4 hours, 1-and-a-half hours, and 20-30 minutes in developed countries.
People and different cultures have taken up cremation for various reasons, including the belief that the bodily resurrection and reuniting of each soul with its physical body is not important. In Kenya, cremation is a growing trend among the wealthy and prominent, and it is essential to understand the process and its implications.
