Family of Slain Blogger Albert Ojwang Alleges Over KSh 500K Raised for Burial Was Swindled

The family of late blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody, is now grappling with a new crisis,allegations of financial fraud involving over KSh 500,000 raised for his burial. 

Ojwang’s death ignited national outrage, with Kenyans from all walks of life demanding justice and accountability. Amid the public grief, thousands of well-wishers, mobilized through comedian Eric Omondi’s “Sisi kwa Sisi” initiative, generously contributed funds to support the bereaved family. 

However, in a shocking twist, the blogger’s uncle, Polycarp Odhiambo, revealed in a video shared by YouTuber Clinton Chirangah Shim that the funds had mysteriously disappeared from the M-Pesa account belonging to Albert’s father, Meshack Opiyo. 

“A few days ago, my brother went to withdraw the money but encountered a problem, he didn’t have his ID. When he visited Safaricom for assistance, he discovered that even his own KSh 17,000 was missing. Upon checking the statement, they saw the names of those who withdrew the funds. Over KSh 500,000 was gone,” said Odhiambo. 

The revelations have compounded the family’s pain, as they now mourn their son while also navigating the trauma of financial betrayal. In the same video, Albert’s father is seen seated in visible distress, weeping silently as the gravity of the loss weighs heavily on him. 

Amid the fundraising, high-profile politicians also stepped in to offer support. President William Ruto reportedly donated KSh 2 million to the Ojwang family after personally calling Albert’s father to express condolences. Additionally, ODM leader Raila Odinga is said to have contributed KSh 1 million to the grieving household. 

While some Kenyans praised the gestures as signs of solidarity, others questioned why additional fundraising was needed after such large political contributions were made. Some voices online went as far as urging the family to return donations collected earlier through public initiatives. 

Eric Omondi, who played a pivotal role in rallying Kenyans to raise the funds, later expressed disappointment, revealing that he felt betrayed by Albert’s father for accepting money from the political class. His frustration highlighted the complex dynamics between grassroots support and political influence during times of national grief. 

The scandal surrounding Ojwang’s burial funds comes just days after similar concerns were raised in the case of Boniface Kariuki, a hawker who was fatally shot during the recent Gen Z protests. He too had been a beneficiary of the Sisi kwa Sisi fundraising campaign. 

As investigations into Albert Ojwang’s death continue, the disappearance of funds intended for his burial has deepened the pain of a grieving family and triggered wider conversations about accountability, transparency, and trust within both public and private support networks.