www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29951679 C&P
Samuel Ochieng waits outside a mortuary in the western
Kenyan city of Kisumu every Thursday and Friday looking for
bereaved families.
The 36-year-old is a professional mourner and his voice and
his motorcycle are his only source of income.
For years hired mourners have been paid to go round the city
at breakneck speed on motorbikes, swerving from one side of
the road to the other, piercing the air with loud whistles and
blaring horns from early in the morning.
"They pay us to make noise and use our bikes to go round the
city. They will buy whistles and alcohol. We will then do the
job," says Mr Ochieng.
"The lowest amount of money we get paid is $6 (£3.80) and
on a good day we can make $12."
Grieving families believe the louder the noise and the bigger
the procession, the greater the honour for the deceased.
And they are willing to spend huge amounts of money for a
lap of honour around the city - traditionally on the last two
days of the working week.
This is because in the Luo community burials normally happen
on a Saturday, so a body will stay in the house for viewing for
a day or two before.
A crowded funeral procession is a symbol of the popularity
and fame of the family.
The paid mourners are briefed about the life of the deceased
and for hours, they will scream and chant their name.
"We have to show people that the person who has just died
was important, [then] the family feels good," explains Mr
Ochieng.