Meet Meru carpenter who has no qualms taking a nap in a coffin

Joseph Mutuma takes a nap inside one of the coffins on display next to his book kiosk. [Photo: Titus Murithi/Meru]

By Titus Murithi

Meru, Kenya: Joseph Mutuma alias Cameroon is a man at home with death. Mutuma who operates a small book kiosk near a coffin shop along Hospital road in Meru town has no qualms even taking his afternoon siesta in a coffin on display at the shop and he says it feels good when he has a nap in the coffin.

“People get scared when they see me take a nap inside coffins but to me it feels good. There is no difference between coffins and beds as they are all made of timber but in different designs,” he says.

He adds: “Death is nothing to scare me because when one dies that is the end. The fear that people harbour when things associated with death like coffins, corpses, undertakers and mortuaries are around them have never crossed my mind,” said Mutuma.

Asked why he sleeps during the day which drives him to take naps in coffins, he says he does much of his work up to late hours of the night and also wakes up very early in the morning.

The work involves watering his farm up to around 12 midnight and milking his cows from around 5am in the morning.

“I prefer taking a nap in a coffin so us not to be disturbed by daylight noises and passersby,” Mutuma says.

Mutuma goes on to say that he does not believe in life after death but he believes in life when one is alive. He adds that his wish is that after he passes on his body should be fed to his pigs but the law cannot allow it.

He further says that in his will, he has indicated that his body organs be donated to a person in need.

 “If possible, my corpse should be donated for scientific research in institutions like universities and big hospitals which lack cadavers and if not, it should be buried inside a coffin made of carton and not timber as this is tantamount to degradation of environment by cutting trees to make a coffin,” he says.

After his siesta in the coffin Mutuma goes for lunch and then starts chewing miraa which he says helps him to plan his work elaborately.

He asserts that miraa has no side effects as claimed by some people for he has chewed the herb since 1984 and up to date it has never brought him any side effect neither has it lowered his libido.

“After my siesta in the coffin I go for lunch to keep myself busy in my book kiosk as I chew miraa,” he says.

He adds: “I have chewed miraa from1984 and I have never experienced any side effect. Those saying miraa has side effects are not genuine. I am married and I have a family. My first-born who is aged 13 is in Class Eight.”

Mutuma is an ardent reader of the Bible. He says that among the books which he adores most and which he reads repeatedly is the book of proverbs which he says has wise words on everyday issues. 

He says: “The book authored by King Solomon gives one a chance to think critically on what goes around him or her. It also offers an insight into one’s immediate environment.”