Back in 1994, the late Kenneth Matiba made a special request. He asked his family to cremate him, adding he didn't want a state funeral.
In an article by a local daily dated February 8, 1994, Matiba is quoted as saying he had instructed his family to cremate him and not bury him because he does not want “dancing parties and Harambees” when he dies.
“After all, the Kikuyu traditionally never buried their dead. They used to take the bodies into the forest to be devoured by hyenas. Was that not wisdom,” he poses.
Matiba is further quoted saying he should not be accorded a state funeral when he dies.
He said only Kenya’s founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta deserved a state funeral.
“All other people, including me, should be buried by their families when they die.”