Renowned Kenyan actor Bilal Wanjau was laid to rest in an emotional ceremony in Machakos on Friday, December 5, 2025, just a day after news of his untimely death broke.
Many were unaware that Wanjau was a practising Muslim, and his funeral followed full Islamic rites, a fact that has touched fans deeply.
A video circulating on TikTok, shared by user @Alfanny, captures Wanjau being buried in full Islamic rites.
In Islam, the body is buried without a coffin (unless required by local laws) and directly in the ground, lying on its right side facing the Qibla (direction of Mecca).
Graves are typically about 2 to 4 feet deep, just enough to cover the body respectfully. There is no requirement for very deep graves.
Shallow graves make it easier to bury quickly, which aligns with the Islamic practice of prompt burial, often within 24 hours of death.
The body decomposes naturally without obstruction, which is consistent with the belief that the body returns to the earth.
The footage that captured Wanjau’s burial shows mourners gathering at a mosque in the dusty town of Machakos, dressed in traditional Islamic attire, praying over Wanjau’s body, which was wrapped in a white Arabic shroud.
Men in kanzus and arafats then hoisted the actor’s body onto their shoulders, walking through the streets while chanting Islamic dirges, as more community members joined the procession.
Passing a signboard reading “Medical Centre Machakos”, the mourners arrived at a field where a shallow grave had been dug in accordance with Islamic burial practices.
Mourners gather at the grave of Bilal Wanjau. PHOTO/X/@_DcpNation
The body was removed from a wooden casket, rewrapped in white shrouds, and blessed with Islamic salat before being lowered into the grave.
In line with Islamic tradition, pieces of wood were placed over the body before soil was heaped, and Sheikhs addressed the crowd, which included several Kenyan celebrities who had come to pay their respects.
The ceremony concluded with mourners sprinkling water over the grave and posing for photos. Notably, no artificial flowers were laid, in keeping with Islamic customs.
Wanjau, 42, passed away on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at a Nairobi hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for complications related to diabetes.
The rapid burial, carried out within 24 hours, is customary in Muslim tradition, which emphasizes prompt interment and simplicity in honoring the deceased.
Fans and colleagues have taken to social media to mourn the loss of the actor, whose contributions to Kenya’s entertainment industry will be remembered for years to come.
