Tuna uchungu: KU student speaks after mum is killed during Linda Mwananchi rally
This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.
- Noureen Nalwanga, a widowed mother of four, was run over by a speeding vehicle during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay on August 16
- Her son Sly Steward, a second-year Kenyatta University student, says his mother rushed out to protect her business when tragedy struck
- The family now faces an uncertain burial, with her late husband's relatives in Vihiga unwilling to receive her body
A Kenyatta University (KU) student has broken down while recounting how his mother was killed during the chaos that engulfed Homa Bay town on August 16, leaving four children orphaned and a family shattered.
Noureen Nalwanga, widely known in the area as "Nya Uganda," lived in Shauri Yako Estate in Homa Bay town.
A widow since 2020, she had been the sole provider for her four children, covering their school fees, clothing and daily needs entirely on her own.
On the day of the Linda Mwananchi rally, Nalwanga had remained at home watching events unfold on television.
Nalwanga hit by speeding vehicle
When she received word that her business premises were at risk of being looted, she stepped out to protect her only source of income.
While attempting to cross the road towards the market, she was struck by a speeding vehicle.
She was rushed to Homa Bay Teaching and Referral Hospital, where she later died from her injuries.
Sly Steward airs biggest concern after mum's death
Her firstborn son, Sly Steward, who is in his second year at KU, described the moment the family's world collapsed.
He said his mother handled everything for them and that, with her gone, they have no idea how they will continue their education or meet basic needs.
"We don't even know how we will go back to school because our mother was doing everything for us," Steward said, appealing to well-wishers and leaders to support the family.
Nalwanga's uncle speaks after tragedy strikes
The grief has been compounded by a painful standoff over where Nalwanga will be buried.
Her uncle, Kigwana Nicholus, who travelled from Uganda after receiving the news, said relatives in Vihiga, Western Kenya, where she had been married, have declined to receive her body.
The family is now considering transporting her remains to Uganda, where she was born, though they have appealed for financial assistance to do so.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga visits Nalwanga's family
"We are puzzled," Kigwana said, adding that they were told the in-law family had internal issues and could not take the body, leaving them to begin making alternative arrangements.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga visited the family on Wednesday to offer her condolences.
She condemned the violence and called on law enforcement to act without bias, saying accountability should not be influenced by political affiliation.
Nalwanga's business colleague Jackline Adhiambo speaks
Nalwanga's business colleague Jackline Adhiambo remembered her as a warm, jovial and generous woman who lit up any space she entered.
She urged political leaders and well-wishers to step in and secure the future of the four children now left without a provider.
For Steward and his siblings, the loss reaches far beyond grief. Their mother was their foundation, and with her gone, that foundation must now somehow be rebuilt.
Gladys Wanga fires accusantions against Rigathi Gachagua
In another story, TUKO.co.ke also highlighted about Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga's explosive accusations against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, claiming he mobilised goons to disrupt the Linda Mwananchi rally.
Wanga's warning against Gachagua's alleged chaos followed a tumultuous political backdrop, where voices of dissent echoed the tragic legacy of the late Raila Odinga, heightening tensions ahead of the pivotal event.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.