When making career choices, many people bombard themselves with options in the overcrowded lucrative industries but as one woman has proved, caring for the dead can rake in some serious income.
In a feature story carried by KTN News on Monday, February 17, Tina Akelo, who operates in Malindi, disclosed that her job entails applying makeup on the dead to make them look good for burial.
She further revealed that she makes between Ksh 20,000 and Ksh 25,000 for carrying out the procedure on a single body.
"When I arrive (at the morgue) the body is produced and I wash it before I apply the makeup on it.
"Before that, I usually engage with the team close to the body (family and morgue attendants) and I determine the products suitable for the exercise, such as the colour of the foundation," she narrated.
She explained that the beautification is common in the Coast region and that her schedule is busiest on Fridays and weekends and according to traditions, she is only allowed to perform the procedure on female corpses.
The job, however, comes with its own challenges but the mother of two is always prepared to tackle them.
"In most cases, the challenge comes when, during the procedure, they report an accident and other dead bodies are brought into the morgue.
"Sometimes you operate in a room full of bodies and you must grit your teeth and carry on," she explained.
She was introduced into the business by the family of her friend who sought her services of beautifying their kin the way she had made her glow on her wedding day.
Tina runs Gifted Hands Salon in Malindi Town where she receives the orders and makes preparation for her job.
She also applies makeup on other women for their wedding days.
