Three people were reportedly shot dead by police at Kasarani International Stadium in Nairobi after chaos erupted during the public viewing of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body.
Thousands of mourners had crowded into the 48,000-seat stadium to pay their last respects to the veteran opposition leader, whose sudden death in India on Wednesday plunged the country into mourning.
Witnesses said police fired live bullets and tear gas after sections of the crowd broke through security barriers, attempting to get closer to the casket. Live footage aired by local media showed people fleeing in panic as gunfire echoed through the stadium. Some mourners hurled stones at police, leading to running battles inside and outside the venue.
Reports indicate that part of the crowd tried to push toward the presidential dais, where President William Ruto and other national leaders were attending the ceremony.
Earlier, officers had already used tear gas to disperse impatient mourners who ignored crowd-control instructions. Despite a heavy police and military presence, security personnel were overwhelmed by the massive turnout.
A somber atmosphere had earlier enveloped Nairobi as Odinga’s body—draped in the national flag—arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where it was received by senior officials and family members.
Operations at the airport were briefly halted for nearly two hours after mourners breached security and accessed restricted areas to view the casket. The Kenya Airports Authority later confirmed that a temporary “precautionary closure” had been enforced before activities resumed.
Due to the swelling crowds, the government relocated the planned public viewing from Parliament Buildings to Kasarani Stadium to accommodate the large turnout.
“At first, the viewing was set for Parliament Buildings, but the situation became uncontrollable,” a senior official from Lee Funeral Home told reporters. “The mortician and his team have now been escorted to Kasarani in a military van.”
By early morning, long lines had formed along Parliament Road and City Hall Way, with some mourners climbing perimeter walls to secure a glimpse of the late leader’s body.
President Ruto, joined by the Odinga family and several dignitaries, was expected to lead the initial viewing before opening it to the public.
The government has declared seven days of national mourning in honor of Odinga, 80, a towering figure in Kenyan politics and one of the main architects of the country’s multi-party democracy.
President Ruto also confirmed that Odinga will be given a state funeral with full military honors. The main service will be held on Friday at Nyayo National Stadium, followed by a procession to Kisumu—his political base—on Saturday.
Members of the public will have another opportunity to view the body before his final burial on Sunday at his ancestral home in Bondo, about 60 kilometers west of Kisumu.
Family sources revealed that Odinga collapsed during a morning walk in the Indian state of Kerala and was later pronounced dead at Devamatha Hospital, about 50 kilometers from Kochi. He had reportedly wished to be buried within 72 hours of his death—a request the family and government are working to fulfill despite logistical difficulties.
