Mortuary attendants warn government after latest development

juma chrispinus

November 22, 2017 12:40 PM

The government on Monday had hinted at implementing a controversial strategy.

The National Transport and Safety Authority’s (NTSA) decision to have drunk-drivers in Kenya work as mortuary attendants has been opposed by morticians working across the country.

On Monday NTSA’s Francis Meja was quoted saying that the authority would have drunk drivers who would be caught in the increased crackdown especially in the festive season to work as mortuary attendants, a contestation the morticians have not taken lightly.

"We cannot have notorious drunk drivers causing accidents yet when they appear in court the penalty is very lenient. Once we have the new policy ready then we shall ensure it becomes law," General Meja had said.

The morticians on Tuesday castigated Mr Meja’s sentiments, adding that the NTSA boss had no respect for their job.

"Stop demeaning our profession. The work we do is very important. We have codes of ethics and conduct that all our staff have to abide by. This is not something we do while abusing substances,” the chairman of National Funeral Services Association of Kenya, Mr Ezra Olack said.

The association’s chairman had vowed to sue the Authority’s boss should he make true his assertions; a move he has said would put their jobs at risk.

"We are not going to allow people to come and ruin our profession. The person who said that must have been joking. But if he was not joking, those who will be told to work in funeral homes can sue him,” Mr Olak said.

He added: "People think mortuary attendants are rejects and drug addicts. People go to school and learn how to take care of dead bodies.”

The NTSA earlier hoped to achieve a reduced number of road fatalities owing to the nature of the environment in the mortuary where rogue drivers would purportedly work, should they be found on the wrong side of the law.

That, however, would be opposed by morticians even as the death toll on Kenyan roads increase, and is worrying due to the fast approaching festivities.

juma chrispinus