Widowed in the maternity ward: Woman mourns husband killed in Busia protests

Youth wheel the body of a man who was shot dead during protests in Busia on May 20, 2026. [Mary Imenza, Standard]

At the maternity wing of Busia County Referral Hospital, 20-year-old Lydia Akinyi cradles her newborn son tightly on her chest. 

The baby occasionally squirms in the wrapper covering him, unaware that the man who anxiously waited outside the delivery room to welcome him into the world will never hold him. 

What was meant to be a joyous celebration has turned into grief. 

Akinyi’s husband, Fred Odhiambo, 38, alias Papah, had escorted her to the hospital on May 20 at around 10 a.m.

She was due for a caesarean section. Like many expectant fathers, Odhiambo appeared hopeful and excited as he prepared to receive his first child. 

According to the family, nurses asked Odhiambo to buy gloves, cotton wool, Jik and other items before his wife could be taken to the theatre for surgery. 

But outside the hospital walls, tension was building in Busia town after the arrest of Edwin Wepukhulu, Busia Youth President, at Busia Police Station, a move that sparked public fury leading to protests outside the police station to demand the release of the youth leader.

The confrontation between police and youths took a tragic turn after five people were shot dead, including Odhiambo. 

With tears streaming down her cheeks, the young mother struggles to describe the pain that has consumed her since learning of her husband’s death shortly after giving birth to a baby boy. 

“I cannot say anything. I am lost for words,” she said. 

In many African homes, childbirth is accompanied by songs, celebration and ululations. 

Families gather to welcome a newborn and congratulate the mother. But for Akinyi, the tears flowing down her face are not tears of joy. They are tears of grief. 

The joy of motherhood has collided violently with the reality of widowhood. 

Her relatives say doctors kept news of Odhiambo’s death from her while she recovered from surgery. 

It was only on the day she was discharged from the hospital, on May 22, 2026, that she was informed about her husband’s death. 

By then, the man who had brought her to the maternity ward was lying in the mortuary.

According to Odhiambo’s brother, Felix Ochieng, he left the hospital in a hurry to purchase the supplies. But as he moved through Busia town, violent confrontations between youths and police officers had intensified. 

Ocheing said Odhiambo bumped into a friend who had allegedly been shot in the hand during the chaos. 

“He saw his friend struggling after being shot. He helped him, placed him on a motorbike and rushed him to the hospital,” Ochieng recounted. 

After ensuring the injured man received treatment, Odhiambo reportedly bought the supplies and was on his way to the hospital when he met his death. 

“Another friend called him, saying thieves were raiding his barbershop during the chaos. Fred rushed there to help,” Ochieng said. 

But as fate would have it, the 38-year-old man succumbed after he was hit by a bullet on the back that exited through the chest as he was trying to stop goons from looting his friends' barber shop. 

“He was shot from the back. The bullet entered from the back and exited through the chest, leaving a huge hole. He could not survive.”

Ochieng described his brother as dependable and deeply committed to family responsibilities. 

“He was the fourth-born in our polygamous family. Even though we had different mothers, he played a very big role in the family. He was responsible and hard-working," he said. 

The family now says they are staring at the long road to justice. 

“They are telling us to go to Kakamega and report the matter to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), yet we do not even have money,” he lamented. 

He also accused police of trying to steal Odhiambo's body from St Francis mortuary. 

“Police went to the mortuary and tried to take the body by force, but the private facility refused to release it and even threatened to release CCTV footage of them in the facility, forcing them to go without the body. We don't know why they wanted that body," he added. 

The family believes Odhiambo was not part of the violent protests and was merely caught up in the unrest while trying to help friends and return to his wife in hospital. 

‘Which Constitution allows this?’ Posed Odhiambo’s sister, Lizian Atieno. She recalled spending time with him earlier in the daybefore the violence escalated. 

“He was very happy because his wife was about to deliver. The day started well, then suddenly there was tension everywhere,” she said. 

Atieno said she rushed to hospital after learning he had been shot but feared the worst when she saw the severity of the injuries. 

“He was taken to the theatre, but I knew he would not survive.” 

Atienio raised concern over the increasing cases of police brutality during protests across the country. 

Standing beside the newborn babyd left behind by her brother, she struggled to contain her anger and heartbreak. 

“Look at this baby. How will he survive without a father? She posed.

She called on the president to rein in rogue police officers. “He has authority over the police. This is unfair,” she said. 

A few kilometres away in the Mauko area, another grieving family is preparing for burial of their kin.

Inside a modest rental home sits Stephen Ochieng Wasao, father to 18-year-old Shadrack Ochieng alias Mabati, another youth allegedly killed during the protests. 

The father says his son was his greatest hope. 

“I was in Nambale town working when I received a phone call saying my child had been shot,” Wasao recalled painfully. 

“By the time I arrived, he had already been taken to the Busia mortuary.” 

Wasao says Shadrack worked as a vendor in Busia town and often supported the family financially whenever he made sales. 

Like many struggling Kenyan parents, he had pinned hopes on his son eventually changing the family’s fortunes. 

“Every parent has hopes in their child. Whether the child has problems or not, a child is still a child to the parent,” he said. 

Now those dreams have been buried alongside the teenager. 

The grieving father said he has been asked to raise money for a postmortem examination. 

“Where will I get money for postmortem expenses while I live in rentals? They are the ones who killed him,” he lamented. 

He said Shadrack was not participating in the protests when he was shot three times on the back and stomach. 

“My son was simply going home. He was not part of the chaos.” 

Wasao appealed to President Ruto to intervene and stop police killings during demonstrations.

“Please, Mr President, talk to the police. Even if they shoot people in the legs instead of killing them, it is better. Where do I begin now when his younger brothers are still in school? He posed.

According to insiders, the protests that later turned deadly were triggered by the arrest of Busia youth leader, popularly known as "Chikuzee," over his criticism against the alleged failures of Governor Paul Otuoma’s administration. 

Residents claim Wepukhulu had recently used TikTok videos to expose alleged poor services at Busia County Referral Hospital, including claims that women were being detained at the facility over unpaid hospital bills. 

The allegations sparked heated debate online and drew reactions from county officials. 

The Busia deputy governor dismissed the claims, insisting the county hospital does not detain patients but instead follows a structured waiver process for vulnerable families unable to settle medical bills. 

Odera said 12 patients had benefited from partial or full waivers since January following assessments by the social welfare department, while another 15 patients with pending bills totalling Sh750,000 were still undergoing review. 

“The rigorous waiver process is meant to establish true facts from the background of affected patients to identify deserving cases,” he said during a press briefing. 

But whistleblowers insist the youth leader’s arrest was linked to his outspoken criticism of the hospital and county leadership; however, police gave a different version of events. 

In an incident report released by police officers, it was alleged that Wepukhulu had been arrested for malicious damage to property after reportedly leading an attack on police officers near a roadblock area and smashing the windscreen of a police vehicle. 

The report further claimed that after his arrest, Wepukhulu contacted a group of youths known as "Jobless", who later attempted to storm the police station, demanding his release.

Police said officers repulsed the group and suspected some youths escaped with gunshot injuries during the confrontation. 

Wepukhulu was later arraigned in court and released on a Sh50,000 bond after being charged with malicious damage to property. 

However, the governor, who released his press statement through his press unit, termed the events unfortunate and disturbing while condemning the police's use of excessive force against protesters. 

"I am deeply disturbed by the unfortunate events witnessed today in Busia Town following the arrest of a suspect and the ensuing confrontation between police officers and members of the public. While we fully recognise and respect the constitutional mandate of the National Police Service to maintain law and order, the reported use of excessive force against civilians is unacceptable and cannot be justified under any circumstances," said Dr Otuoma. 

He added, "Security agencies must at all times exercise restraint, professionalism, and utmost regard for the sanctity of human life in the discharge of their duties. I have received disturbing reports indicating that lives may have been lost, while several others sustained injuries during the incident. On behalf of the people and the county government of Busia, I convey condolences to the families that may have lost their loved ones and wish a quick and full recovery to all those injured and currently receiving treatment."

Otuoma called upon the relevant authorities, particularly the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), to move with speed and investigate killings and ensure that officers found culpable are brought to book.