Grief and anger collided in Kokwanyo village, Homa Bay County, as mourners gathered to lay to rest 31-year-old Albert Ojwang, a former Pwani University student, teacher, and activist whose death in police custody has sparked national outrage.
Hundreds of kilometres away from Kilifi, students travelled from Pwani University to pay their final respects. Beneath a small white funeral tent, they viewed Ojwang’s body, which lay still in a wooden casket. Some wept quietly, others openly sobbed, overcome by the weight of loss.
Ojwang was remembered not just as a student but as a leader, mentor, and brother to many. “He was like my brother,” one comrade said through tears. The students, in a show of unity and defiance, broke into solemn chants of “Comrades power!”, raising clenched fists in honour of a man they say stood for truth and justice.
Born in Kakoth, Homa Bay, Ojwang was a teacher by profession and an outspoken blogger. He was arrested on June 7 for allegedly posting a defamatory message on social media. Days later, he died in a Nairobi police cell under suspicious circumstances.
Police initially claimed Ojwang had injured himself and died after being rushed to Mbagathi Hospital. However, a post-mortem revealed blunt-force trauma, suggesting he had been assaulted—a revelation that has triggered demands for a full investigation.
At Pwani University, where he studied Kiswahili and Religious Studies, Ojwang was an active member of the Luo Students Association and a voice for student welfare. He continued to mentor students long after graduation.
His funeral, held at his father’s home, brought together students, activists, and community members—each echoing the same sentiment: Ojwang’s voice will not be silenced.
As dusk settled over the hills of Homa Bay, the students stood united, fists raised one last time. “Power!” they chanted, their grief carried on the wind. Ojwang’s spirit, they vowed, will live on.
