Viral Kakamega woman using boda boda to transport dead bodies speaks out

A recent photograph of Consolata Adhiambo riding a motorbike while carrying a coffin has gone viral on social media.

Adhiambo, popularly known as Dem Mngori among her peers in Kakamega and online, was seen wearing a red T-shirt, without a helmet or reflector jacket.

It later emerged that the coffin contained a body. A man was also seated on top of it, apparently to help balance the weight and prevent the motorbike from tipping over.

What many did not know is that this was the fourth body Adhiambo had ferried on her motorbike.

She said the rising cost of living has made it difficult for many families to afford a hearse. “Some families choose to carry coffins using boda boda because they cannot raise enough money to hire a hearse,” she explained.

Adhiambo said the idea came to her last year during a relative’s funeral in Khwisero, Kakamega County.

“I took the coffin, transported it and delivered it safely,” she said.

She added that she is paid Sh3,000 per trip, along with a chicken. In Luhya culture, a chicken is traditionally used to ward off or appease spirits believed to interfere with one’s life.

“I do not use the money for household needs or savings. I spend it socialising with friends because I was told such money should not be taken home,” she said. Adhiambo said she has now ferried four bodies, mostly within the county, and noted that the practice is no longer considered unusual in some areas.

To stabilise the load, she said a passenger is sometimes required to sit on the coffin during transpotation. Born in Chavakali, Kakamega County, she was raised by her grandmother, who supported her education up to Class Four before financial difficulties forced her to drop out.

“I came to Eshisiru near Kakamega town in 2018. I worked as a house help for a year, then entered a relationship in which we had two sons, now aged seven and five,” she said. “In 2020, we separated after disagreements.

While we were together, he owned a motorbike and taught me how to ride it. When he was away, I would hire one and carry passengers,” she added.

Adhiambo said her work has attracted criticism, curses and ridicule from some members of the public. Others, she said, have told her she will never get married. “They laugh at me and insult me,” she said.

However, she maintains that the job enables her to support her children. “Riding a boda boda to earn a living is not wrong, as long as you get your daily bread,” she said.

She added that she has not experienced problems with traffic police while transporting coffins.

However, transporting dead bodies using boda boda is illegal, and some counties have banned the practice to uphold public order and ensure dignity for the deceased. Under Section 137 of the Penal Code, failure to treat a dead body with dignity or obstruction of proper burial is a misdemeanour.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) also sets strict limits on motorcycle loads: not more than 50 kilogrammes, no more than 15 centimetres beyond the handlebars, and no more than 60 centimetres behind the motorcycle.

A standard coffin exceeds these limits, making such transport unlawful. Nevertheless, some boda boda riders continue to ferry bodies, often due to economic hardship or cultural practices.

She also highlighted the risks associated with her work. “To stay safe amid rising cases of rape, murder and motorcycle theft, I avoid working late hours and close by 7pm,” she said.