A move by Kisumu West Member of Parliament Rosa Buyu to launch a hearse became the subject of discussion by a section of Kenyans as they expressed their judgements on the move.
The lawmaker commissioned the hearse as an initiative to help her constituents during bereavement. She hoped to avail an option for her constituents and save them from hearse owners known for charging hefty amounts for their services.
According to the legislator, the move was conceived in response to the frequent calls for help in times of grief by her constituents. She noted that the majority of calls are related to illnesses or bereavement.
The MP will cater for the hearse's driver, fuel and other expenses that would have otherwise remained a burden to mourning families.
"This hearse is fully donated and funded by me as an MP and no constituent will have to pay anything for it, all that our bereaved constituent will do is give us the information in time so that we make arrangements for it," she stated.
In photos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the hearse was packed outside the Kisumu West Constituency Development Fund (CDF) office where bereaved constituents will book its services. Its interior is furnished with state-of-the-art seats for the comfort of passengers and has a black exterior with a painting of her nickname," Dwasi".
A section of Kenyans lauded Buyu's move, describing the hearse as a huge reprieve to thousands of constituents weighed down by the high cost of living.
“Now the great people of Kisumu West Constituency will say bye-bye to the so high hiring expenses of the hearses,' a Facebook user commented.
However, some users expressed their disappointment with the decision to prioritize a hearse in a constituency where its population was grappling with other challenges.
“Kisumu West Constituency MP Rosa Buyu has purchased a Hearse to help her dead constituents conveniently reach their homes. We call it priorities.
"Our leaders prefer supporting the dead instead of the living or the sick," another one commented.
In her defence, however, Buyu dismissed critics insinuating that she was wishing death upon her constituents. She affirmed that the hearse would come in handy for constituents who are unable to meet transport costs for their departed loved ones.
Members of Parliament have on other occasions raised concerns over the number of calls they receive from their constituents as Kenyans solicit for aid during an illness or death of a loved one for fundraisers aimed at offsetting hospital bills.
