Preserving Eldoret’s Neglected Cemeteries is a way to Honour our Past and Safeguarding our Future.

 By William Kiptoo

Yesterday, I shared a post about Eldoret’s old cemetery, tucked behind Kipchoge Stadium. The reactions were mixed: Some agreed with my sentiments, some mocked me, while others seemed to think I was just stirring up forgotten bones for fun. But this conversation is worth having, and it deserves a moment of sincere reflection.

Well, the truth is, Eldoret’s cemeteries, once solemn grounds of remembrance, are slowly slipping into neglect. The graves, hidden behind Kipchoge Stadium and those scattered across the town are burial sites that hold the silent stories of generations past—pioneers, colonial settlers, early African residents, war veterans, and ordinary families who helped shape the town’s rich and diverse history. Today, many of these cemeteries are overgrown, vandalized, or completely forgotten.

Cemeteries are more than places to mourn the dead; they are archives of memory, identity, and community. Every grave tells a story. Every name etched in stone is a piece of Eldoret’s collective narrative. When we allow these sites to decay, we risk erasing not only individual legacies but also important chapters of our town’s past.

Take the example the Eldoret's Christian cemetery, Kamukunji cemetery and the European Cemetery. What were once dignified burial grounds now lies in disrepair, overrun with weeds and broken headstones. This decline speaks volumes about how we as a society view our history. It raises important questions: Do we value the memories of those who came before us? Are we willing to protect spaces that remind us of where we’ve come from?

Preserving these cemeteries is not just a matter of respect for the dead—it is a duty to future generations. By restoring and maintaining them, we create spaces for learning, reflection, and cultural connection. Schools, local leaders, and community groups can play a vital role in championing this cause.

Let us not allow time and neglect to bury our heritage. Preserving Eldoret’s cemeteries is a way to honour our past while building a more conscious, respectful future. Every grave matters—because every life once lived, mattered.