Tear Gas and Chaos at Nairobi Stadium as Mourners Gather for Raila Odinga’s Last Farewell
In a somber scene in Nairobi, Kenyan police deployed tear gas to disperse large crowds of mourners gathered at the Moi International Sports Centre to pay their respects to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The beloved political leader’s body was flown in from India, where he tragically passed away.
Gunfire was reported during the incident, although it remains unclear whether the police used live ammunition or rubber bullets. Eyewitnesses confirmed that several mourners sustained injuries as security forces struggled to manage the overwhelming number of attendees.
Public Grief Overflowing
Thousands of grieving supporters, some carrying palm branches and twigs, had gathered at the main airport to welcome Odinga’s body, which caused a temporary halt to flights due to the immense outpouring of grief. Authorities were forced to close off restricted areas for about two hours as mourners surged forward.
Initially planned to take place inside the parliament building, the public viewing ceremony for Odinga was moved to the stadium in the Kasarani neighborhood due to the unexpectedly large turnout. The procession from the airport to the stadium, roughly 10 kilometers from the city center, was packed with supporters eager to pay their last respects.
Upon arrival at the stadium, the situation escalated when a section of the crowd breached a gate, prompting police to release tear gas. This led to a chaotic scramble as mourners rushed to exit the arena. Reports from a BBC journalist on the scene indicated that individuals in civilian clothing were seen using batons against protesters, with several people visibly injured, including one individual with a serious head wound.
A Community in Mourning
Among the mourners was one individual who expressed their sorrow, saying, "I came here at six in the morning. We have been at the airport to welcome Baba [Odinga’s nickname]. We are sad; we have been left as orphans. He is our father." A devoted supporter named William Otieno Adoyo, who identified as a "Baba die-hard," voiced the need for closure: "We want to see Baba. How do we know it’s him in the casket? Let them show us, and we’ll be content."
A state funeral is scheduled for Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. On Saturday, Odinga’s body will be transported to Kisumu, his political stronghold located on the shores of Lake Victoria, where the public will have an opportunity to pay their respects before his burial on Sunday at his farm in Bondo, approximately 60 kilometers west of Kisumu. According to family members, Odinga expressed a desire to be laid to rest quickly, ideally within 72 hours.
The 80-year-old former prime minister collapsed while taking a morning walk in India on Wednesday and was taken to Devamatha Hospital, located about 50 kilometers east of Kochi. In honor of his legacy, Kenyan President William Ruto announced that Odinga would receive a state funeral with full military honors. The nation has declared a seven-day mourning period as they remember a towering figure in Kenyan politics, who served as the main opposition leader and ran for president five times, most recently three years ago.
For more updates on Raila Odinga’s funeral and tributes, stay tuned.
