“You’ve Treated Him Just Like Your Own Son”: Ojwang’s Father Thanks Ruto for Sh2M Donation, New House

HOMA BAY – Meshack Opiyo Ojwang expressed gratitude to President William Ruto for personally calling and donating Sh2 million following the death of his son, Albert, in police custody.

Speaking at his home in Lida Village on Monday, June 16, 2025, the grieving father said Ruto treated Albert “as though he were his own son” by offering condolences directly.

“Because he took this burden as his own and called to say sorry, I thank him,” Meshack said, highlighting the rarity of such presidential attention.

Meshack, joined by local leaders including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, revealed that both President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had personally called to offer condolences.

Ruto’s call included a Sh2 million donation to support burial arrangements and immediate family needs.

Meshack noted that many families lose children in similar circumstances without receiving such direct support from the presidency.

On Monday, Governor Wanga visited the family in Kokwanyo, a day after Meshack returned from Nairobi.

She pledged to construct a two-bedroom house for the family, valued at Sh1.5 million, to be completed within two and a half weeks, before the burial.

Wanga also announced that the Homa Bay County Government would connect electricity to the family’s home by June 17 and establish a water point for the family and surrounding community.

Albert Ojwang’s death has sparked widespread anger. Arrested in Homa Bay while visiting his parents, he was transferred to Nairobi by Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers and died in custody under unclear circumstances.

Protests and demands for accountability have intensified.

On Monday, authorities arrested three civilians in Nairobi suspected of involvement in Ojwang’s death.

The suspects, reportedly inmates at the Central Police Station, are alleged to have been recruited by police to beat Ojwang to extract information.

Also on Monday, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat stepped aside pending investigations into Ojwang’s death.

In a statement, Lagat described the decision as being in “good and conscious thought” of his responsibilities, with his deputy assuming his duties until the probe concludes.

Inspector General Douglas Kanja told senators on June 11 that the investigation began on June 4, 2025, following a complaint by Lagat about social media posts on X accusing him of corruption within the National Police Service (NPS). Filed under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, the case prompted a team of five officers to investigate.

Senior Superintendent Hillary Mutai recorded Lagat’s statement at Vigilance House, and investigators contacted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to verify the claims and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) to preserve content from the X account, which has approximately 13,400 followers.

Investigations into Ojwang’s death continue as pressure mounts for justice. Burial arrangements are expected to proceed once the investigations and justice processes advance.