Nyeri is to play host to this year’s Morticians and Allied Professionals Association of Kenya (MAPAKe) conference.
Speaking after meeting a delegation from MAPAKe who had paid a courtesy call at his office Wednesday, Nyeri Governor Dr Mutahi Kahiga said the county is ready to host the annual event slated for September.
The delegation was led by the association’s National Chairperson Elikana Mwinami and his deputy Mukami Ng’ang’a.
“We discussed various matters touching the association, including the upcoming 5th Annual Morticians’ and Scientific Conference expected to be held in the second week of September 2026 in Nyeri County,” posted Dr Kahiga on his Facebook page.
“The 5th Annual Morticians’ and Scientific Conference is expected to bring together professionals from funeral services, mortuary science, pathology, and related scientific fields.”
This is not the first time Nyeri County is hosting a scientific conference for medical practitioners.
Last year, Nyeri County hosted the 3rd Annual Mount Kenya Regional Scientific Conference for Clinical Officers and hosted the National Nurses Association of Kenya (NNAK) 65th Annual Scientific Conference few years ago.
And in 2023, Kagumo Teachers Training College played host to the 65th nurses conference that brought together more than 2,000 nurses from the 47 counties.
Dr Kahiga pledged to support the work of morticians in the county and said his administration will ensure the upcoming event provides an ideal platform to help demystify the perceived stigma associated with the profession.
In addition, he also welcomed proposal by MAPAKe to establish a training center complete with hostels and a modern farewell Home in Nyeri in coming days.
“My administration is very committed to supporting the conference and the association. This year’s gathering will focus on innovation, ethics, and sustainability in death care practices, highlighting the intersection of tradition and modern science. Some of the objectives of the conference will include knowledge sharing, professional development, networking and ethical dialogue,” added Kahiga.
In November 2019, the Funeral Service Association of Kenya (FSAK) reported of a severe shortage of morticians and morgue attendants in the country.
The Association chair Mr. Ezra Olaky said most of the morgue attendants were unqualified casuals and not enough for the growing sector.
He said Kenya lacked training facilities for morticians apart from Chiromo Campus, which has a three-month course for mortuary attendants.
“We have about 250 members in our association but there is still a shortage. We need close to 1,000 members to work in this sector. It is a huge one that requires more manpower,” he said.
“They (funeral homes) just want somebody who has worked in a mortuary, they have not pegged any minimum requirement or qualification. But we want to start with certificate and diploma holders. There is a gap that exists and we need to close it,” said Mr. Olaky.
by Samuel Maina
