Sorrow Deepens: Slain Blogger Albert Ojwang’s Family Loses Over KSh 500K Meant for Burial
The grieving family of Albert Ojwang, the young Kenyan blogger whose death in police custody sparked national outrage, now faces fresh heartbreak after discovering that over KSh 500,000 raised for his burial has allegedly been siphoned from his father’s M-Pesa account.
Albert’s uncle, Polycarp Odhiambo, revealed in an emotional video that the funds, which thousands of Kenyans donated through comedian Eric Omondi’s “Sisi kwa Sisi” initiative, mysteriously vanished just as the family was preparing to lay their loved one to rest.
“A few days ago, my brother wanted to withdraw the money but didn’t have his ID. When he went to Safaricom, he found even his own KSh 17,000 gone. On checking the statement, they saw who withdrew the money, over half a million shillings just disappeared,” said Odhiambo.
In the video, Albert’s father is seen overwhelmed by grief and shock, adding to a tragedy that has already shaken the country. The family says they feel cheated twice: first by a system they believe failed their son, and now by betrayal during their mourning.
Boniface Kariuki’s family faces similar loss
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. The family of Boniface Kariuki, the hawker who was shot at close range by police in Nairobi’s CBD during protests demanding justice for Ojwang, claimed they too lost over KSh 200,000.
According to Kariuki’s father, scammers conned him out of the money, pretending they were helping him register for the new Social Health Authority programme. Both families had been counting on the donations from well-wishers to cover medical bills and funeral expenses, only to discover their accounts drained.
The big question: Who is protecting grieving families?
Albert Ojwang’s death in police custody triggered a wave of anti-police brutality protests in Kenya. As Kenyans continue to demand justice and reforms within the police service, these new revelations raise urgent concerns about how donations are handled and whether more accountability is needed to protect grieving families from opportunists.
Albert’s family is now pleading for help to recover the lost money and for well-wishers to stand with them during this painful time.
