This archive report was first published on 6 July 2019.
On July 4, 2019, Kenyans mourned the passing of Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, a man who left behind a legacy of innovation and transformation at the leading telco in the region.
Collymore's family chose a modest send-off, opting for cremation instead of a grand funeral that could have cost tens of millions of shillings.
The family paid Sh5,000 for the transportation of Collymore's body from his house in Kitisuru estate to the Lee Funeral Home on Argwings Kodhek Road, and Sh3,000 daily for keeping the body at the morgue.
They also chose a Sh65,000 coffin, which is the second cheapest option available at the funeral home.
According to Constable John Mark Mwanzia of Muthaiga Police Station, attached to the City Mortuary, transporting bodies in public service vehicles like matatus, buses, or taxis is against the law.
He advised that in case of a death at home, the correct thing to do is to report the death to the police, who will take the body to the family's preferred mortuary and provide a letter authorising the family to hire a hearse.
However, many Kenyans are unable to afford the high cost of funerals, with some resorting to using public service vehicles to transport the dead.
Two weeks prior to Collymore's funeral, Kenyans on Twitter shared their own experiences of transporting the dead in public service vehicles due to financial constraints.
