Cemetery standoff threatens to derail Eldoret’s Mashujaa Day preparations

A fierce standoff has erupted in Eldoret between the Uasin Gishu County Government and families over the threatened disturbance of a historic Christian cemetery containing more than 1,000 graves, some dating back more than 120 years.

The two-acre cemetery, adjacent to Kipchoge Keino Stadium, has become the centre of a growing dispute as works to expand and upgrade the stadium gather pace ahead of the October 20 Mashujaa Day celebrations, which will be held in Eldoret.

Aggrieved families and clergy confronted county officials on Wednesday, demanding an immediate halt to any works touching the cemetery and accusing the county government of moving onto the site without adequate public participation or notice.

“These are our heroes and heroines. Any attempt to excavate their tombs is unholy, dishonourable and an absolute abomination,” said family representative Martin Njuguna.

Mr Njuguna said removing the graves to pave the way for stadium expansion would amount to hypocrisy, particularly as the country prepares to celebrate national heroes in the same city.

“It is the height of hypocrisy to celebrate national heroes here in Uasin Gishu while vandalising the resting places of our own heroes,” he said.

The standoff escalated on Wednesday morning when county excavators began digging trenches around the cemetery.

Relatives rushed to the site and blocked further activity, prompting local officials to say the works were intended to erect a perimeter wall around the cemetery as part of a beautification project, rather than exhume bodies for the expansion of sports facilities.