Kenyans Unite in Grief: Massive M-Pesa Donations Pour In for Albert Ojwang’s Family

The tragic death of 31-year-old teacher Albert Ojwang in police custody has sparked an unprecedented outpouring of solidarity from Kenyans, who have united through M-Pesa donations to support his grieving family.

What began as a father’s desperate journey from Homa Bay to Nairobi has transformed into a powerful symbol of national unity against injustice.

Meshack Opiyo, who had travelled from Homa Bay to Nairobi hoping to rescue his only child, was met with devastating news: his son was already dead.

His heartbreaking image, shared widely in the media, showed a man defeated and confused, grappling with the weight of a loss he could neither explain nor accept.

The public response was immediate and overwhelming.

The public response was swift and overwhelming. Hundreds reached out, eager to help the grieving father with burial expenses and to show they stood with him in his pain.

Comedian Eric Omondi has launched a fundraiser to support the three-year-old son of the late Albert Ojwang, whose sudden death in police custody has sparked national outrage.

A screenshot showing Meshack Opiyo, the father of 31-year-old teacher Albert Ojwang being comforted by comedian Eric Omondi.

In a statement shared via his X handle on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Omondi urged Kenyans to unite and support the grieving family.

The comedian’s intervention proved catalytic. It wasn’t until comedian Eric Omondi shared Meshack’s phone number on Tuesday that the donations began flooding in.

The response was so overwhelming that Omondi had to provide additional phone numbers. “Hey guys, God bless you for the overwhelming support… the M-Pesa message is full. This is Albert Ojwang’s father’s other number, 0113664965 (Meshack Opiyo). Let’s keep sending. You can also send to Pochi La Biashara on the other number 0727927898 (Meshack Opiyo). God bless,” Omondi posted.

The speed of the donations was remarkable. “Just within 11 minutes of me posting Meshack’s number, and it is full. We have managed to get another number, and it will also read Meshack. He has called me and told me that, ‘Eric, please tell Kenyans thank you,’” he added.

The donations represented more than financial support.

One Kenyan, Isaac Kimtai, said the overflowing M-Pesa was more than a fundraiser.

“Yes, it is compassion, but also a roaring cry of rage. A collective heartbreak, a digital uprising,” he said in a Facebook video.

“Albert is not just a name. He is a victim of police brutality, another young Kenyan silenced by a system that should protect him. And Kenyans are not looking away. They are showing up with their phones, their voices, and their money because they are tired. Tired of injustice. Tired of silence. Tired of seeing their brothers and sisters die without consequence.”

As the body of Ojwang lay cold at the Nairobi Funeral Home, his father stood broken but firm, demanding answers from the police.

He emotionally addressed journalists on Tuesday, naming those he believes should be held responsible.

“I handed him over to you through the people that you sent to arrest him,” he said, accusing police officers who claimed to have been sent by Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.

“I need you to tell me why you killed my son. What sin did he commit to warrant death?” Opiyo posed.

The retired father’s pain was palpable as he described his investment in his son’s future.

Opiyo, a retired man who had invested all his hope in Albert, struggled to understand the cruelty of his son’s death.

“I educated him and retired so that he could take care of me. Today you’ve broken my hand,” he said, visibly crushed by grief.

The circumstances surrounding Albert Ojwang’s death have raised serious questions about police conduct.

Ojwang was arrested on June 7, 2025, in Homa Bay County for posting defamatory content online about Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat.

Albert Omondi Ojwang who died while in police custody in Nairobi after his arrest at his family home in Kakot, Homa Bay County. (Photo: Courtesy)

He was transferred over 350 kilometres to Nairobi’s Central Police Station.

A postmortem conducted on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Nairobi Funeral Home has raised serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding Ojwang’s death.

According to Midia, Ojwang suffered head injuries, compression to the neck, and widespread soft tissue injuries.

The body also bore defensive wounds on the hands and bruises on the upper limbs and torso.

These injuries suggested that Ojwang had been assaulted, contradicting the official police account.

Five pathologists confirmed that Ojwang had been tortured and beaten to death.

Through the overwhelming response, Omondi emphasized the importance of supporting Albert’s young son.

“How many more must we bury??? #TeamSisikwasisi let’s stand with Baba Albert. Albert left behind a 3-year-old son. Let’s ensure he never lacks anything. May he grow to know that his father died a hero.”

The M-Pesa donations flooding in represent more than financial assistance—they embody a nation’s collective grief, anger, and determination to ensure that Albert Ojwang’s death was not in vain.

In a country where trust in institutions often wavers, Kenyans have shown that they will stand together to support the vulnerable and demand justice for the wronged.

As investigations continue and calls for accountability grow louder, the response to Meshack Opiyo’s plight demonstrates the power of digital solidarity in modern Kenya.

The overflowing M-Pesa notifications serve as both a testament to Kenyan compassion and a digital protest against police brutality—ensuring that Albert Ojwang’s three-year-old son will grow up knowing his father died a hero, and that he is not alone.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​