Geoffrey Mosiria, Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, has issued a request to individuals operating coffin businesses near hospitals.
Following a personal visit to a coffin seller near a medical facility, Mr Mosiria publicly shared his appeal, emphasising the emotional toll these businesses can take on vulnerable patients.
The Chief Officer made the plea after visiting a coffin shop located in Kikuyu, just next to a hospital. He was accompanied by Wilbroda.
Mr Mosiria confessed that approaching people in the coffin business was a fear he had carried for years, but he finally gathered the courage to do so.
“Today, I overcame a fear I’ve carried for years, approaching people in the coffin business. With the support of my sister Wilbroda, I finally gathered the courage, and what I witnessed truly touched my heart.”
Dignity and God’s Work
During his visit, the Chief Officer met a lady operating the business. Mr Mosiria was deeply moved by what he witnessed.
He noted that the men and women involved in the trade are performing “God’s work with dignity, love, and deep respect for the departed”.
He acknowledged that many people judge these sellers unfairly. However, to him, they are God-sent, providing a necessary service and walking with grieving families during their most painful moments.
The Chief Officer made his personal belief clear:
“Let us pray that people live long; people should not die.”
The Emotional Cost to Patients
The primary purpose of Mr Mosiria’s appeal is linked to the emotional well-being of the sick. He specifically asked that coffin shops be kept away from the main entrances of hospitals or directly opposite them.
The official reasoned that patients who are in critical condition may see the displays. This sight could cause immediate panic or lead them to lose hope of recovering.
“My humble request, however, is this: let us keep coffin shops away from the main entrances of hospitals or directly opposite them. Patients who are in critical condition may see them and immediately panic or lose hope of recovering,” he said.
Mr Mosiria stressed the need to ensure a balance. He wants to uphold the dignity of this
“Let us balance the dignity of this important business with the emotional well-being of the sick,” Mosiria added.
Coffin Costs and Seller’s Request
The Chief Officer learned valuable details about the business during his inspection. He discovered that the cost of a coffin ranges widely. Depending on the quality, prices can be KES 30,000, KES 40,000, or KES 20,000.
The seller, who performs a service that Mr Mosiria noted nobody else is willing to do, also raised a concern of her own.
She requested that the government look into reducing the work permit or licensing fees required to run the business. She described the current fees as “painful”.
by moses sagwe
