Widow: Ojwang Had Big Dreams for His Family and Kakoth Community

The village of Kakoth is grappling with the sudden death of Albert Ojwang, a young farmer and former teacher, after he was taken into police custody last Saturday. 

Ojwang's death has ignited grief and raised questions about accountability within the close-knit community, where he was viewed as a promising figure dedicated to agricultural development and youth mentorship. Ojwang, a recent graduate of Pwani University, returned to Kakoth after teaching in Voi, Taita-Taveta County, to settle with his wife, Nevinina Onyango, a nursing student at Thika School of Medical Sciences. The couple had recently formalised their union in a traditional ceremony, establishing their home in Ojwang's renovated simba within his family's compound.

Central to Ojwang's vision was a commitment to agriculture. He had established a seedbed adjacent to his home, nurturing vegetable seedlings intended to bolster local food security and create economic opportunities. "He came back home with a vision. The seedbed was just the beginning," Onyango said, highlighting her late husband's ambitious agricultural plans.

Village elder Benson Ojweke emphasises Ojwang's dedication, stating, "Many young people have abandoned farming for quick but unfruitful ventures. Ojwang was different. His commitment to agriculture showed his determination to uplift the community." 

Ojweke notes that Ojwang's academic success had inspired local schoolchildren, illustrating the potential for overcoming adversity through education. Family members recall Ojwang's selflessness and commitment to his parents. 

"He had already gathered bricks for their house. He wanted to secure their future first," said his uncle, Joseph Okumu, noting Ojwang's plans to build a permanent home for his parents before constructing his own residence.

Ojwang's mother, Eucabeth Adhiambo Ojwang, recounts her son's daily calls to check on their well-being. She describes the events of last Saturday, when police officers arrived at their home on motorcycles and requested Ojwang to accompany them without providing an explanation. The family, trusting in due process, believed he would return after standard procedures in Nairobi. Those hopes were dashed with the news of his death.

"Even if he had been jailed for life, I could have visited him. No one deserves to die like that," laments Adhiambo Ojwang, reflecting on the profound loss felt by the community.