Tension is mounting in Eldoret as families with relatives buried at an old Christian cemetery adjacent to the Kipchoge Keino Stadium oppose any plans to exhume the graves to pave the way for the expansion of the sporting facility.
The families say they were neither consulted nor involved in any meaningful public participation before construction and fencing works began near the cemetery.
Speaking at the old Christian cemetery on Wednesday, the families demanded that authorities come clean on the stadium expansion plans and explain whether the graves will be affected.
Langas Ward MCA Francis Muya said the ongoing construction and fencing had heightened anxiety among families who have loved ones buried at the cemetery.
Muya called on Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii and CS Edward Sawe to intervene, insisting that no graves should be disturbed without following due process.
“We are asking the authorities to engage these families and the community. If there is any intention to exhume the bodies, there must be consultation and a court order before anything is done,” Muya said.
He also appealed to President William Ruto to intervene and ensure the families’ concerns are addressed before the project proceeds further.
Harun Maina, whose family has a relative buried at the cemetery questioned why those directly affected were not consulted before the project commenced.
“How can you make decisions affecting our loved ones without even talking to the families? We want to know what the plans are and why the community was left out,” Maina said.
Martin Njuguna, who spoke on behalf of the affected families, said they would resist any attempt to exhume the remains of their relatives.
“We will not sit back and watch our loved ones being removed from their final resting place. This cemetery is not just a piece of land. It has history, memories and meaning to many families in this community,” Njuguna said.
He described any forced exhumation as an injustice to the deceased and called for dialogue between the families, the county government and other authorities involved in the stadium project.
Father Fredrick Njoroge, whose father is buried at the cemetery, said he supports the development of sporting facilities but argued that development must be carried out with respect for the dead.
“I support sports and I support the development of this stadium. But development should not mean that we forget our responsibility to respect those who have gone before us,” he said.
Father Njoroge said families deserved an opportunity to participate in discussions before any decision affecting the cemetery is made.
The families maintained that they are not opposed to the expansion of the stadium or development of sports in Eldoret. Their concern, they said, is the manner in which the project is being undertaken and the uncertainty surrounding the graves.
They are demanding meaningful public participation, full disclosure of the stadium expansion plans and guarantees that the cemetery and graves will be protected.
The families have warned that they could seek legal intervention to stop any attempt to exhume the remains until their concerns are fully addressed.
The dispute now puts authorities in a delicate position as they seek to advance the stadium expansion while addressing the rights of the affected families and the historical and cultural significance of the old cemetery.
APERIT FM, HII NI YETU
