Speaking to ICC a few days after the birth of Rowen, Velma Awour narrated how the bundle of joy comes amidst the pain of losing her husband. “March 11 is the day that shall remain etched on our heart for the rest of our lives.

We received the news of the bus attack in Mandera and that my husband was among the three people that were shot dead by the al-Shabaab fighters.  

Kevin Owen Onyango was slain in a heinous attack on Christian passengers in northeastern Kenya for refusing to convert to Islam.

The Somali-based terrorist group, al-Shabaab, tracks passenger buses moving between Nairobi and Mandera. They then ambush the buses, seperating Christians from Muslims and executing the Christians.

Velma recalled, “That day, more than 20 armed gunmen stopped the bus that Kevin was traveling in and asked Christians to get down. He and another Christian man alighted from the bus, but another Muslim man accompanied them. Both of them declined to recite the shahada, as the Muslim man tried to negotiate with the Somali speaking insurgents. All three were killed on the spot as the bus was waved to accelerate towards Mandera town.”

She added, “He died at a time when we were expecting God to bless us with another child. Rowen will never see or know his father. Kevin did not live to hold his third son. He died an innocent death while holding on to the testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Kevin Owen Onyango is one among many Christians who have lost their lives in the ruthless hands of the Somali extremists in Kenya. This has left many families broken and without key breadwinners hence sliding into poverty.

The Islamic radical group has been carrying out attacks in Nairobi, Mombasa, Lamu, and the three northeastern counties of Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir. 

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