In the solemn halls of Ridgeways Baptist Church, Kiambu Road, grief hung heavy on Wednesday as moving tributes poured for slain teacher and influencer Albert Omondi Ojwang’.
The wooden casket bearing his remains stood before the altar, hosting epitaph in his remembrance in the fairly attended memorial service, with mourners’ faces drawn in anguish and disbelief.
Ojwang’ died in a police cell on June 8, hours after his arrest in their village home in Homa Bay County.
His mother Eucabeth Ojwang', could not hold back tears as she recalled how supportive his only son had been, expressing the helpless status the death had plunged her into.
“He dearly cared,” Eucabeth said, overwhelmed with grief, but she gathered courage to narratehow Ojwang’s death has traumatised them. She said her son would be concerned about their well-being. “He called up late at night asking if we had a meal.”
Eucabeth painfully recounted the last moments she shared with late son before people who identified themselves as Directorate of Criminal Investigation officers took him.
She said Ojwang was terrified when the police appeared, but he played her worries down when she asked if he had done something wrong.
“Albert my son, I am sorry. You were taken from my hands before you even ate the food I had given you; you hadn’t even started on your ugali. I apologise for letting you go while you were still hungry,” she said.
She added: “I don’t know how I am going to survive, I don’t know where I will begin. Ojwang was so humble and loving. He was generous.”
Ojwang’s wife Nevnina Onyango said: “I love you. See you soon, were my late husband’s words while in Nairobi Central Police Station hours before news of his death broke out.”
“Seing him at the mortuary really broke me down,” she said.
Nevnina described Ojwang as “an amazing person in my life, who would sit me down and tell me I have to be courageous. He was reserved but courageous.”
“He left at a time we didn’t expect. It is heavy on us and my son who doesn’t even understand what’s happening,” Anyango stated. “I don’t even know what to say, I lack words. I just want to stand strong for our son. I want these people to look up to me as he means so much to me. Strength and peace of mind that everyone wants,” she added.
She urged security agencies to treat everyone fairly and respectfully irrespective of their status in society. “I wouldn’t wish to see what has happened to us on anyone. Treat anyone perfectly even if there are people you don’t know. Treat them fairly,” she urged.
Ojwang’s father, Meshack Opiyo, drew parallel his son’s death to that of Abel in the Bible.
“Albert’s blood was spilled even though he committed no wrong. Those who killed him to protect themselves and to hide their dark sides should know they may be able to retain their earthly riches, respect and honour but they will never know peace,” said Opiyo.
“Your life was taken unfairly and justice must be done, but for now, I lay you to rest with a broken heart and a silent prayer,” he added.
And amid the pain inside the church, it emerged that beneath the sorrow some church officials disclosed that DCI officers had visited them prior and warned them against allowing politicians to the pulpit.
“About 16 DCI officers had come and warned us against welcoming politicians, especially from the opposition to the pulpit. Some, we were cautioned not to provide seats for,” one official said.
Some mourners also questioned why the mass had been hosted in the quiet hood away from the city.
Despite this, former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi and Mumias East MP Peter Salasya graced the event and used the opportunity to call out the government for orchestrating the killings.
Muturi likened Ojwang’s parents’ case to his when his son was abducted, saying he was just “lucky” because he had access to the President.
“How about Albert’s mother? And several others who could not and cannot have the opportunity of getting the highest office in the land? This is the result,” he said.
“If we are to build a country that respects humanity, and we are the ones who have educated these young kids, it cannot be that when they come to question the way we do things, we treat that as criminal. Yet we continue to call ourselves a democratic country,” the former CS and Attorney General said.
