Shikuku’s burial plans offer key lessons on financial planning

Such a bold decision takes us away from binding traditional ways of thinking that are not applicable in today’s business world.

Pre-digging a grave is a taboo? How can admitting you are going to die and planning well for it be a taboo? Additionally, embalming is not required for the first 24 hours; one will most definitely save on the mortuary and embalming expenses.

Using Mr Shikuku as a case study will allow Business schools to use African case studies as opposed to the much used First World cases.

This would introduce a different way of thinking in financial and business leaders.

Planning includes the following: putting one’s financial affairs in order, writing a will, sharing bank accounts, ‘chama’ or saccos, title deeds, insurance policies, mortgages, birth certificates, death certificates, any kind of financial verbal agreements with your loved ones as well as a trusted lawyer.

Many cases in the Kenyan courts of law are about a person dying intestate; cases that can take years or decades to close — not only is that expensive it takes a toll on the family, breeds contempt and is very expensive.

Listing all possessions will save your family agony at a time of great stress. Organised and well-written or verbally shared instructions on these documents will surely take the hustle off people running around frantically trying to put your funeral together

Proclaiming in public that he did not wish his family or loved ones to go through financial difficulties after his demise should be a point worth mentioning and noting.

Chances are that no distant relatives will appear claiming they had left a pregnant goat at his homestead years ago and as such would like to pick up or collect more than five goats today.

Mr Shikuku even stated he had four bulls for the President and Prime Minister to enjoy at his funeral. God bless this man’s soul.

Surely, life for his heirs and heiresses should go on more swiftly financially and, who can come up with “goat” stories when the family has an entire nation as key witnesses.

Accepting death and putting some good business humour in it makes a lot of sense. Writing your own obituary and picking your own picture or even designing your coffin to suit what you love most are perfectly in order.

I have seen some coffins shaped and designed like cell phones, others like angels, and some like beer bottles. Preparing all this will save you lots of time and we all know TIME IS MONEY.

If you have not written down your list or do not intend to write one, you might want to consider working on a financial bucket list. We all have a secret list of things we really want to do in our lifetime.

If you are nearing the end of your life, you clearly don’t have as much time to accomplish this list before you “kick the bucket.”  Start today and do what you can.

If you are not imminently facing the end of your life, make your list and start working on it. Starting now allows you to accomplish more than dreamt rather than running after time.

The truth

You can compare this to an adjustable business plan that will govern the rest of your financial life. The list can include how much you want to contribute towards your retirement, whether you are going to dig own grave or those of your spouse or spouses, their shapes, if you would be cremated and your ashes made into a pencil that would draw your portrait— name it.

The truth is we shall all die unexpectedly or not but preparing for death in advance shall relieve the people left behind of decision-making burden and financial constraints.

Let many people start visualising a peaceful send-off by planning well and openly; the mere reason Certified Financial Planners exist and will continue to be in demand.

The Son of Oyondi, RIP.

Ms Munywoki is a startup and entrepreneur coach and business developer.