Tearful scenes unfolded at Ridgeways Baptist Church on Tuesday, July 2, as the requiem mass for slain X blogger Albert Ojwang took place. Loved ones were overcome with anguish, with some seen wailing and lying on his casket, a polished brown wooden one adorned with golden handles. The sombre atmosphere extended to the church parking area, where the hearse carrying his remains revealed the casket through its butterfly doors. Ojwang's death, which occurred while he was in police custody, has ignited widespread public outrage and continues to raise disturbing questions about the circumstances surrounding his final moments.

Albert Ojwang’s death has been shrouded in controversy. He died under mysterious circumstances after being taken into police custody on allegations of spreading false information about Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat. Initial police reports claimed that Ojwang had fatally injured himself by hitting his head against his cell wall. However, a subsequent post-mortem examination painted a starkly different picture, revealing that he died from blunt force trauma to the head and bore multiple injuries consistent with signs of torture. Furthermore, police accounts stating they rushed an unconscious Ojwang to Mbagathi Hospital were contradicted by CCTV footage, which showed he was already lifeless upon arrival. Leaked hospital documents later confirmed this. As public pressure mounted, Central Police Station OCS Samson Taalam, along with other police officers and civilians allegedly linked to the murder, were arrested and arraigned in court, with investigations ongoing as the family and rights groups demand full accountability.

Following the requiem mass, Albert Ojwang's body is expected to be flown to Siaya on Wednesday, July 3, for his final burial rites. He is scheduled to be laid to rest on Friday, July 4, at his rural home in Kakwonyo, Homa Bay County. In a gesture of support, Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga announced and has since commenced financing the construction of a modern two-bedroom house for Ojwang’s family in Kokwanyo, Kabondo Kasipul. Videos and photos of the single-storey structure, built with thick stone/concrete block walls and featuring black metal grills on the windows, have emerged, showing it nearing completion with a maroon roof visible. Kenyans have largely commended the governor for fulfilling her promise to support the family, noting that Ojwang was a hardworking man who would have built a home for his parents himself had he been alive.

Adding to the family's distress, Ojwang’s uncle, Polycarp Odhiambo, revealed that over KSh 500,000 raised by well-wishers for funeral expenses had been swindled. The family discovered the unauthorized withdrawal after Ojwang’s father encountered difficulties accessing the funds due to a lack of identification and sought assistance from Safaricom. Despite these challenges, condolence messages from Kenyans flooded social media, expressing heartbreak and prayers for the family's strength. The tragic and controversial death of Albert Ojwang continues to resonate deeply across the nation, highlighting ongoing demands for justice and transparency.