Kenya and specifically Luo Nyanza seems to have acquired a new profession in the name of professional mourning.
The rather odd job seems to be gaining ground in some parts of the lakeside province, specifically Migori county where a group of youth are now cashing in by crying at funerals.
One of these is Daniel Ochieng’, a 21-year-old who is seeing nothing wrong in making a few thousand shillings by helping the bereaved family mourn.
Ochieng’ reveals that the job comes in 3 phases, the most important one being during the collection of the body from the morgue.
“We have various sessions; the first session is at the morgue and that is the most serious session. We cry the most there until those who did not know the deceased believe they had people who truly loved them,” he is quoted by the Citizen Digital.
He adds that though they have no personal attachment with the deceased, they do the crying passionately by imagining that they are the bereaved ones.
He says that they charge Sh1000 per session, bringing in Sh3, 000 per full package, adding that some families are willing to part ways with upto 10, 000 shillings to give their loved one a good sendoff.
And though the job goes against Luo traditions, he is now calling upon the government to recognize, and certify professional mourners as part of the list of professionals in the nation.
As if not enough, he claims that himself and his colleagues are gaining fame, and are now being hired to mourn in as far as Meru county.