Albert Ojwang, the Kenyan blogger who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody, was laid to rest in his home village in Homa Bay County.
But what caught the attention of many was a moment during the funeral when Albert Ojwang’s young wife, Nevnina Omondi, refused to throw soil into his grave. This is a common tradition in many Kenyan burials signifying the final goodbye.
A video capturing the emotional moment has gone viral, sparking mixed reactions online.
Albert Ojwang would have turned 31 on 7/7/2025, but instead, he was buried a few days earlier, in an occasion filled with raw grief. Kenyans are planning ‘Saba Saba’ protests in honor of this day.
When Albert Ojwang’s coffin was lowered into the ground, his parents were seated. But they did throw soil (dust) into his grave when the bishop handed it to them.
His father painfully declared that his dreams had died with his only child. His mother, in tears, cursed the villager who led the police to their homestead, saying they robbed her of her son.
Nevnina, dressed in black, was seen comforting their young son at the graveside. When it came time for mourners to toss soil into the grave, she quietly declined. Even when someone gently offered to help her do it, she firmly refused.
“Do not force her. Only give her if she wants to,” a preacher told the crowd.
But some people did not take her reaction kindly. One man tried to force soil into her hand before being stopped. Online, the moment triggered debate.
Why Nevnina Refused to Throw Dust into Albert Ojwang’s Grave
Some social media users criticized Nevnina, suggesting her actions showed a lack of love or respect.
Others speculated that she might not have been officially married to Ojwang or that dowry (mahari) had not been paid, which in some communities can complicate a woman’s standing during funeral rites.
Still, others defended her. One user said, “Maybe she’s just overwhelmed by grief.” Another commented, “She is clever. She did what she felt was right.”
Some also reminded men that in death, it is often parents who stand by to the end, not spouses.
Watch the video here.
By Vivian K.