Three dead after police open fire at Raila Odinga memorial in Kenya
Nairobi: At least three people were killed on Thursday when security forces opened fire at a packed stadium in Nairobi during a memorial gathering for Kenya’s veteran opposition leader, Raila Odinga, a prominent rights group has said.
The chaos erupted at Kasarani Stadium on the outskirts of the capital, where tens of thousands had gathered to view the body of the revered statesman, affectionately known as “Baba” (father). According to VOCAL Africa, three bodies were taken to City Mortuary following the incident.
“Three bodies from Kasarani have been received this evening at City Mortuary,” the rights group confirmed on X (formerly Twitter).
Witnesses said the shooting began after sections of the crowd surged towards a VIP area, prompting security personnel to respond with live ammunition and teargas. The incident sparked scenes of panic, with mourners fleeing in all directions.
AFP reporters at the scene described a man lying motionless with blood streaming from his head, while security forces were filmed beating attendees with sticks as they attempted to escape the stadium stands.
Presidential candidate Martha Karua condemned the violence, posting on X, “Why would police use teargas and ammunition to disperse mourners?” alongside video footage of the stampede and chaos.
President William Ruto arrived at the stadium shortly after the violence, accompanied by members of Odinga’s family and senior government officials. They viewed the body privately in a side room before calm was eventually restored and the public was allowed to pay their respects.
Odinga, who died aged 80 on Wednesday while receiving treatment at a health facility in south India, was a towering figure in Kenyan politics. Despite five failed bids for the presidency, he remained one of the country’s most influential voices for democratic reform and social justice.
Earlier in the day, thousands had thronged Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to receive Odinga’s coffin. The overwhelming turnout led the Civil Aviation Authority to briefly suspend operations, including several flights. Due to concerns over crowd control, authorities diverted the funeral procession from its planned route to Parliament, redirecting it instead to Kasarani Stadium.
President Ruto has declared seven days of national mourning, with a state funeral set to be held in Nairobi on Friday. State broadcaster footage also showed large gatherings in Bondo, Odinga’s ancestral home in western Kenya, where he is scheduled to be buried on Sunday.
Born on January 7, 1945 to a future vice president, Raila Odinga spent much of his early political life imprisoned or in exile during the autocratic rule of President Daniel arap Moi. He later served as Kenya’s prime minister from 2008 to 2013, following a power-sharing agreement after a disputed election.
Despite never securing the presidency, Odinga commanded deep respect across the political spectrum. His death leaves a significant vacuum in Kenya’s opposition movement, with no clear successor identified as the country approaches a potentially fraught general election in 2027.
Michael Omondi, a youth leader in Odinga’s party, spoke to AFP at the airport, saying: “I came to receive an icon… a giant.”
The scenes of mourning turned violent have sparked widespread condemnation and renewed questions over the use of force by Kenyan security services, particularly during moments of national grief.
AFP