By Spy Uganda
Panic and confusion gripped thousands of mourners in Nairobi on Thursday after police fired gunshots and tear gas inside a stadium where crowds had gathered to view the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The incident occurred at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, where tens of thousands had converged to pay their final respects to the veteran opposition leader, who died on Wednesday morning while in India.
Eyewitnesses said chaos broke out when sections of the crowd attempted to force their way through a gate into the packed stadium. In response, police fired into the air and released tear gas canisters to disperse the surging crowds.
Several people were injured in the stampede that followed, with at least one mourner sustaining a serious head wound. It remains unclear whether the officers used live ammunition or rubber bullets.
Earlier in the day, Odinga’s body had arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where thousands of supporters turned up to receive his coffin. The overwhelming turnout briefly disrupted airport operations, forcing a two-hour closure of restricted areas as authorities struggled to contain the masses.
From the airport, a long motorcade and a sea of mourners escorted the convoy to the stadium, about 10 kilometers from the city center.
Due to the unexpectedly large crowds, the public viewing was relocated from the Parliament Buildings to the Moi International Sports Centre, which still overflowed with supporters.
Minutes after the convoy entered the arena, security forces moved to control a breach at one of the gates. Tear gas filled the air as mourners ran for safety, some falling in the commotion.
“We came to mourn Baba, not to be chased away,” said William Otieno Adoyo, a motorcycle rider and ardent Odinga supporter. “We just wanted to see him and say goodbye.”
For many Kenyans, Odinga — fondly known as “Baba” — was a father figure and symbol of resistance.
“We are sad, we have been left as orphans. He is our father,” said one mourner near the airport, clutching a twig — a traditional Luo symbol of mourning.
Odinga’s body had been flown from India, where he collapsed during a morning walk before being rushed to Devamatha Hospital, about 50 kilometers east of Kochi.
The government has declared a seven-day period of national mourning, with President William Ruto announcing that Odinga will be accorded a state funeral with full military honors.
The state funeral will take place at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, followed by the transportation of his body to Kisumu on Saturday. Members of the public will have an opportunity to view the body before his burial on Sunday at his ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County — in accordance with his wish to be laid to rest within 72 hours.
At 80, Raila Amolo Odinga was one of the most influential figures in Kenya’s political history — a man who defined opposition politics for decades. Despite contesting five presidential elections and facing repeated defeats, he remained a symbol of reform, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of democracy.
As the nation mourns, tributes continue to pour in from across Africa and beyond, honoring a leader whose voice, even in death, continues to echo in Kenya’s struggle for justice and inclusion.
