A woman in Malindi is earning a living from a rather bizarre
hustle.
Tina Akelo, a beautician who owns a salon, also grooms the
dead at a private mortuary in the town.
Speaking during an interview with KTN News reporter Tobias
Chanji, Akelo said that she started the business in 2016 when she was called
upon to groom her friend at the morgue.
Being her first time, she stated that the experience was somewhat
uncomfortable but her work was so good that clients started streaming in.
“Her family bought everything I needed to prepare her for
burial and I washed her and dressed her.
“I started receiving many calls since people liked how I did
my work,” she said.
Akelo further stated that at the coast most families like to
doll up their loved ones before burial and it might be one of the reasons why
the business is quickly picking.
She makes between Sh20,000 – Sh25,000 per body and only
works on female bodies.
Asked about her challenges, Akelo said that it is tough when
she is working on someone then an accident happens and fresh bodies are brought
in.
“I just try to remain strong and focus on my work…it is not
easy,” she said.