At least four people lost their lives in Nairobi on Thursday after Kenyan security forces opened fire and used teargas to disperse huge crowds gathered at a stadium where the body of the late opposition leader, Raila Odinga, was lying in state.
Odinga, a towering presence in Kenyan politics for decades, passed away on Wednesday, October 15, in India at the age of 80, where he had been undergoing medical treatment. He was a former Prime Minister, a one-time political prisoner, and a five-time presidential contender, widely regarded as one of Kenya’s most influential political figures.
Thousands of mourners had filled the streets from dawn to honour the late statesman. However, the atmosphere turned chaotic when sections of the crowd forced their way through the gates of Nairobi’s main stadium.
Witnesses recounted that soldiers fired into the air in an attempt to regain control, while police officers used teargas to scatter the swelling crowd. A police source later confirmed that at least two people were shot dead during the incident.
Earlier in the day, the situation had already shown signs of tension when crowds briefly overpowered security at Nairobi’s international airport, disrupting a solemn ceremony where President William Ruto and senior government officials had received Odinga’s body with full military honours.
The unrest soon spread into the city centre as groups of mourners attempted to march toward Parliament, where the public viewing had initially been scheduled to take place.
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