Female Kenyan Mortuary Attendant Who Cannot Stay Away From The Dead

Twenty six year-old Alice Awuor Omito from
Rongo, Migori County, Kenya , has shocked
many after confessing that preparing the dead
for burial is the one thing that makes her happy.
The employee of Rosewood Funeral Home in
Rongo said that she dropped out of nursing
school after fears that she would not secure
employment after school.

The mortician began working as a morgue
attendant at Star Mortuary in Kisumu two years
ago, aged 24 before transferring to Rosewood
in Rongo and says that she can’t imagine being
away
from the dead.

“I enjoy spending a better part of my working
days with the dead. I can’t imagine staying away
from them even for a single working day. I have
to go
and look at the bodies stored in freezers daily,”
she said.

“I discontinued my studies in nursing and
pursued mortuary science because of available
job opportunities in the latter field. I don’t
regret changing professions, not one bit,” Awuor
added.

She narrated her journey to being a female in a
male dominated field, adding that she has come
to love her job, and would not substitute it for
another.

“When I was new in this job I had fears and
challenges handling the dead, but now I enjoy
every bit of my work. I adapted so fast and I
am comfortable,” she says.
The mother of one however disclosed the
challenges that come with being a mortician,
confessing that it has not been a smooth ride
for her.

“My boyfriend recently dumped me when I told
him that I work as a morgue attendant.
Discrimination is just one of the several
challenges I face for being a mortician. The
challenges are normal
though. No job is immune to challenges
regardless its nature,” says Awuor.

She revealed why marriage would be her last
thing:
“I fear my partner would dump me once he gets
to know about my job. I don’t want to go
through the same experience again.”