We meet Fredrick Waitari, 42, going on with his daily routine just next to Nakuru North Cemetery.

Next to him is a collection of gravestones that he has made, awaiting buyers.

While some people may find this business strange, to Mr Waitari it is just like any other business.

Speaking to Mtaa Wangu, the family man revealed that his first job was working in the cemetery as a grave digger.

However, the idea to move into the gravestone business came up when working for his uncle in 2001 in a company that dealt with granite materials.

“After working there for four years, I decided to move and start my own business here at the Nakuru North Cemetery,” he says.

Initially, Mr Waitari narrates how his clients would visit him at the cemetery and make their order, giving specifications on how they wanted the gravestone to look like.

Prompted by high competition in the business, he decided to stop waiting on the customer but instead curved out different designs of the gravestones and displayed them right outside Nakuru north cemetery.

Some of the gravestones designed by Mr Waitari.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI| MTAA WANGU

As he walks me through the samples, he notes that some customers pick the ready-made gravestones while others request for a customized one to suit their needs.

“It takes me a week to curve a gravestone. One gravestone costs between Sh 5,500 to Sh 20,000 depending on how complex the design is,” Mr Waitari explains.

Mr Waitari designed a gravestone with his photo and number to market his business.

Photo credit: PRISTONE MAMBILI| MTAA WANGU

To him, getting clients is not a problem as he has a network besides his positioning at the Nakuru North Cemetery, with one of the gravestones having his contact details.

“Many people here in Nakuru know that if you want gravestones, you can get them opposite Nakuru Level 5 hospital, next to Nakuru North Cemetery,” he proudly states.

The father of three says he is proud of his job as it has enabled him to comfortably pay his rent, school fees as well as other expenses.

pmambili@gmail.com

From a grave digger to a gravestone dealer

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Pristone Mambili