A President’s Call, A Nation’s Grief: Ruto Personally Reaches Out to Albert Ojwang’s Father

As Kenya continues to reel from the shocking death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, a deeply personal moment has emerged amidst the national outcry, a direct and heartfelt phone call from President William Ruto to the grieving father, Meshack Ojwang. 

On Monday, June 16, Meshack, newly returned to his rural home in Homa Bay after a harrowing week in Nairobi pursuing answers about his son’s mysterious death in police custody, publicly shared the moving details of the President’s call. “I want to thank the President for taking my son as his own,” Meshack told locals, his voice heavy with emotion. “So many young people have died recently, but he chose to take up my pain and pass his condolences. I’m very grateful for that.” 

Ojwang, who died under controversial circumstances on Saturday, June 8, while held at Nairobi’s Central Police Station, has since become a symbol of the need for police accountability in Kenya. His death has not only sparked national outrage but also triggered high-level resignations and promises of justice. 

But amid the legal drama and political tension, President Ruto’s call stood out for its intimacy, a gesture not commonly extended in such cases. Beyond words, the President also offered tangible support, with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga confirming that Ruto donated Ksh2 million to the bereaved family. 

This compassion wasn’t isolated. ODM leader Raila Odinga contributed Ksh1 million, and the Homa Bay County Government has pledged to build a two-bedroom house for the family.  

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja further stepped in, offering a permanent and pensionable job to Ojwang’s widow, an effort to secure her future in the wake of sudden tragedy. Sakaja also vowed to help purchase land and construct rental units in Homa Bay for the family to generate sustainable income. 

These acts of kindness have come as a much-needed salve for a community in mourning. On Sunday, June 15, Meshack fulfilled a cultural obligation upon arriving home, formally informing the village of his son’s death. As is tradition, this marks a critical step toward closure and healing for the family and community. 

Meanwhile, the legal and investigative aspects of Ojwang’s death continue to unfold. On the same day Meshack revealed the President’s call, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat stepped aside to allow for a transparent investigation into the death, a move interpreted as both strategic and symbolic. 

While answers remain elusive in the tragic case, one truth is clear: Albert Ojwang’s death has become more than a headline. It is now a national moment of reckoning, compassion, and, perhaps, hope for a more just system.