NAIROBI, Kenya- A viral video allegedly recorded at Nairobi’s Lang’ata Cemetery has ignited widespread debate on social media after showing a group of men removing flowers from a recently covered grave and burning them while performing what appeared to be religious rites.
The footage, shared online by an Uber driver, has attracted thousands of views and conflicting interpretations, with some users describing the actions as part of a legitimate religious practice while others questioned whether the activities were linked to occult rituals.
According to the driver, the video was captured after he transported mourners to a funeral at the cemetery.
He claimed the burial had taken place two days earlier before he witnessed several men, dressed in religious attire, removing flowers placed on the grave.
The video then shows the men setting the flowers alight while conducting what appear to be ceremonial rituals.
However, the purpose of the activity shown in the footage has not been independently verified.
The incident has fuelled intense discussion online, with social media users offering sharply contrasting views.
One user, identified as Odhiambo Koggah, claimed the practice was linked to satanic worship, writing: “I rebuked a preacher for leading innocent people to hell because those are satanic altars. The man cursed me and vowed that I would not live to see the sun set. He died, I am still alive.”
Another user, Vic, urged caution against jumping to conclusions, saying the practice could be religious rather than sinister.
“It’s normal. Some religions do not allow plastic flowers. They allow people to put the flowers and later burn them. It’s not a cult but a religion,” the user wrote.
A third user, Muchai Moses, questioned the events, commenting: “Folks are strange out here. I hear that cultists would pay any price for the rope and even part of the branch a suicide victim uses to hang themselves.”
The differing reactions underscore the absence of verified information regarding the activities shown in the footage. Without confirmation from the individuals involved or relevant authorities, the reasons behind the removal and burning of the flowers remain unclear.
Lang’ata Cemetery is Nairobi’s largest public burial ground and is managed by the Nairobi County Government.
Located along Lang’ata Road opposite the main entrance to Nairobi National Park, it has served as the city’s principal public cemetery since opening in 1958 after City Park Cemetery reached capacity.