Otieno Kajwang’s son opens up about his downward spiral—and a dramatic intervention.
During a somber tribute at his mother’s memorial service, David Brian Ajwang’, the eldest son of the late senator Otieno Kajwang’, recounted the painful journey he plunged into after his father’s death. According to his testimony, when Kajwang died from cardiac arrest in 2014, David’s life took a sharp and destructive turn.
He said the shock of losing his father left him adrift-he fell into heavy drinking and drug-use, abandoned by his own sense of purpose and trust. In his words:
“When my dad died … I was a lost man. I was lost in alcohol and drugs and very self-destructive habits.”
David had credited his mother, Rose Bujehela Otieno, for saving him from that darkness, saying her illness and the final months she endured made him realize he had to change paths.
Events took a dramatic turn when it emerged that at one point, David had been brought to Millie Odhiambo’s home for help. While details remain scanty, media reports indicate that someone brought him to her house in some sort of intervention-style situation that compelled her to intervene. According to reports, the encounter forced a turning point in his life.
Today, David said he is sober, serving in church roles, and committed to helping others avoid the path he took. He said his mission now is “to choose light over darkness”.
It serves as a reminder that there is a human cost behind public figures’ lives: behind the profile of a senator’s family are real struggles, choices, and hope for redemption.
By Kenyans