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Nairobi City Mortuary attendant Sam asserts that the deceased communicate, but not through auditory or sensory means.
Does the dead really communicate?
In an interview with Plug TV, Sam revealed that the deceased do not communicate with the living.
He explained that while contact through dreams is a possibility, he has never encountered ghosts or experienced any contact with spirits during his work.
He assured that it is natural for the bereaved to feel a sense of contact with their loved ones, and that this can be a healthy aspect of the grieving process.
“If you have not seen a dead body, it’s not an easy experience,” Sam remarked. He elaborated,
“The deceased do communicate, but not verbally. They might convey messages through dreams, though not directly. There is nothing like hearing an echo, someone talking behind you, or feeling a tap on the shoulder while on a night shift. When a person dies, that is the end. I actually look forward to experiencing nightmares someday.”
Regarding unusual requests, Sam shared that certain communities have specific customs about dressing the deceased.
“Some tribes avoid dressing the deceased in particular clothing or undergarments. They believe that if the deceased wear these items, it brings bad luck to those left behind,” he explained.
After hearing from Sam, netizens praised his dedication and commended his discretion and respect for both the deceased and the bereaved.
- @joykam8267: “I applaud him for being open while maintaining the privacy of the dead and the bereaved.”
- @kenitrader9762: “I have great respect for people like him and even garbage collectors. Just imagine a world without them.”
- @christinenjeri6711: “This job requires a lot of passion, and it’s definitely not easy.”
- @sooziedickson5669: “He has changed my perspective on morgue attendants. Respect.”
How did morgue attendant ‘finish off’ dead bodies?
In September 2023, former morgue attendant Magwanja Osufuche stirred controversy by disclosing that he used to ‘finish off’ individuals who appeared to show signs of life.
Osufuche revealed that if someone was presumed dead but seemed to still have life, he would strike them on the back of the head with an axe before proceeding with stitching.
For his work, he was paid KSh 400 per day. However, he was reportedly driven out of his job after being confronted at around 2:00 am by the ghost of an elderly woman he had struck with the axe.
