Nairobi: Nyeri Governor Dr. Mutahi Kahiga has urged both levels of government to enhance efforts in addressing the welfare of Kenyans working in funeral homes. Speaking at the 5th Annual Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya (MAPAKe) conference in Nyeri, Dr. Kahiga highlighted the challenging environments morticians operate in and emphasized the need for comprehensive psychosocial and welfare support systems.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Kahiga drew attention to this year’s theme, ‘Honoring the Dead, Healing the Living,’ and acknowledged the critical role morgue attendants play in the community. He praised their services as a profound duty that bridges human vulnerability with professional responsibility. The governor also expressed gratitude to the event organizers for dedicating time to address the mental health and well-being of morticians.
Dr. Kahiga emphasized the importance of elevating professional standards through continuous development, ethical frameworks, and seamless collaboration between funeral homes, hospitals, and government agencies. He commended the health sector’s collaboration at various government levels for providing morticians a platform to voice their professional needs and improve their working conditions.
The governor noted that morticians play a critical role in the healthcare system and underscored the necessity of providing a safe and supportive working environment. He highlighted the emotional challenges faced by morticians, such as secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue, and called on county governments to prioritize their well-being.
In Nyeri, 15 morticians are employed across the county’s four public facilities, with 11 having received specialized training sponsored by the county government. Dr. Kahiga advocated for integrating proper training standards under the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Health Profession Oversight Authority to align mortuary practices with global standards.
During a courtesy visit by MAPAKe in May, Dr. Kahiga pledged his support for the morticians and welcomed the proposal to establish a training center and a modern farewell home in Nyeri. He reiterated his commitment to supporting the conference and the association, focusing on innovation, ethics, and sustainability in death care practices.
In 2019, the Funeral Service Association of Kenya (FSAK) reported a severe shortage of qualified morticians, highlighting the need for more trained personnel in the sector. Association Chair Ezra Olaky pointed out the lack of training facilities in Kenya, except for a short course at Chiromo Campus, and stressed the need to establish minimum qualifications for mortuary attendants to address the manpower gap in the industry.
