Photos from Albert Ojwang’s 4th July 2025 burial in Homa Bay County have sparked an intense online debate over the perceived shallow depth of his grave.
The 31-year-old teacher and blogger’s resting place, adorned with Kenyan and Manchester United flags and flowers, appeared barely deep enough to cover the casket, with netizens estimating its depth at three to four feet.
This has puzzled many, as it seemingly deviates from Kenya’s standard burial practices, prompting questions about cultural norms, logistical constraints, and the emotional toll on Ojwang’s family after a month of public mourning.
Kenyans online voiced varied reactions, reflecting a mix of concern, cultural understanding, and outright bewilderment:
@NdunguNyoro: “Rest in peace, comrade, but that grave depth is worrying.”
@TaliaRose: “Some communities skip cementing graves. It’s tradition, not carelessness.”
@SharoKelituKaAombe: “Why’s no one addressing how shallow that grave is? ”
@NaomiKariuki: “Cemented or not, it looks odd. Something’s not right.”
@GemGuy: “I thought 6×4 feet was mandatory? This is barely 3 feet ”
@RiqueTamoo: “Is it really 3 feet, or just the photo angle?”
@LinahKhasiya: “Not all families cement graves, like mine. It’s normal.”
Some, like @PatrickMwangi, urged respect for the family’s choices, while others speculated the shallow grave reflected exhaustion after prolonged grief.
Burial Depth in Kenya: Cultural and Practical Reasons
In Kenya, graves are typically dug to a standard 6 feet deep by 4 feet, as per the Public Health Act, to ensure proper decomposition, prevent scavenger access, and meet health regulations.
Costs for cementing graves, averaging KSh 20,000–50,000, can deter families. Challenges like rocky soil or time constraints could also contribute to shallower excavations.
Some communities, as @TaliaRose noted, forgo cement due to ancestral traditions favouring natural burials, with local studies indicating approximately 30% of rural burials remain uncemented.
In Luo culture, common in Homa Bay where Ojwang was buried, deeper graves are traditionally preferred to honour the deceased, amplifying the scrutiny of Ojwang’s burial.
