The family of slain blogger Albert Ojwang has publicly addressed the ongoing confusion surrounding the amount of money raised following his death, firmly denying claims that KSh 10 million was collected through public and private donations.
Speaking on behalf of the family, spokesperson Kenneth Ouma clarified that the actual amount raised so far stands at KSh 5.6 million. According to him, only KSh 2.06 million came from the general public, while the remainder was contributed by political leaders—President William Ruto sent KSh 2 million and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga contributed KSh 1 million.
The family confirmed that an official paybill account was established and shared with the public shortly after Albert’s autopsy results were made public. Ouma stated that this account was the only legitimate channel through which the family received funds. He further clarified that while comedian Eric Omondi also helped share a paybill number, it was connected to the official family account and was done in good faith.
However, Ouma pointed out that a fake paybill number was also circulated online by a pseudo account impersonating Eric Omondi. The family has since urged the public to be cautious and to ensure that any future contributions are made through the official and verified channels.
Addressing the figures shared by Eric Omondi, Ouma dismissed the claim that KSh 10 million had been raised. He clarified that Eric only speculated that the total could possibly reach that figure, but did not confirm it. “We don’t have KSh 10 million. As of now, the account has KSh 5.6 million. That includes KSh 2.06 million from the general public and donations from the two leaders,” he stated.
In earlier remarks, Eric Omondi had voiced frustration after the family accepted contributions from the government. Eric, who has been an outspoken critic of the current administration, felt that receiving money from the state—which he believes bears some responsibility for Albert’s death—was a betrayal of the people’s support. He had been instrumental in mobilizing public contributions, creating awareness online, and sharing payment details to help raise funds for the family’s needs and Albert’s burial expenses.
In addition to the fundraising controversy, the family also raised concerns over missing funds. More than KSh 500,000, which had been raised by well-wishers, allegedly vanished from the M-Pesa account of Albert’s father, Meshack Opiyo. This sparked speculation that some of the contributions may have been misappropriated or siphoned off without the family’s knowledge. Albert’s uncle, Polycarp Odhiambo, suggested that the amount might have been stolen from the Sisi Kwa Sisi initiative connected to Eric Omondi.
Despite the tensions and conflicting narratives, the family has emphasized transparency moving forward. They continue to urge members of the public and well-wishers to confirm the authenticity of any fundraising appeals before sending contributions, to ensure the money reaches the intended beneficiaries.
