I have to be a mom and dad – Albert Ojwang’s widow opens up on raising son after his death
By William Muthama, July 24, 2026Nevnina Onyango, the widow of Albert Ojwang, a teacher and blogger who died while in police custody, has opened up about the challenges of raising their son following his death while trying to fill both parental roles.
Speaking during an interview with Mwelekeo on Friday, July 24, 2026, Nevnina said the hardest part of becoming a widow at a young age has been raising her child without his father’s presence.
She said she has had to take on responsibilities that her late husband previously handled, forcing her to adjust to life as both a mother and father to their son.
“Trying to raise my son, being a mom and a dad at the same time. I think that’s the most difficult part of it,” she said.
Nevnina added that there are moments when she wishes her husband was present to handle certain things, but she is learning how to cope with the new reality.
“There are some things that I can’t do that he was doing for our son. So yeah, I think that’s the most difficult thing right now for me. And I’m trying to cope with that,” she said.
Raising son differently
Nevnina also revealed that she is determined to raise her son in a way that prevents him from growing up with anger or resentment over the circumstances surrounding his father’s death.
She said she understands that her child may one day come across information about his father online, but she wants him to have a strong foundation and understand the situation without carrying bitterness.
“Mtoto mleavyo ndivakwavyo,” she said, referring to the Swahili proverb that highlights the role of upbringing in shaping a child’s character.
Nevnina said she plans to guide her son through faith and good values as he grows.
“I think we’ll just raise him to be a better person, take him to church, bring him up like that, and let him grow in a very good way,” she said.
Family struggles
The widow also spoke about the challenges young widows face, especially when dealing with issues involving their late husband’s family.
She explained that a husband often serves as the person a woman turns to when facing family challenges, and losing that support can make such situations difficult to navigate.
“There’s a way that your husband is always there for you when it comes to the side of their family. There are some issues that you don’t know how you deal with or cope with because he was the only person you would run to,” she said.
Nevnina noted that many widows struggle because the person who stood by them is no longer there to offer guidance and support.