Calamity Hits as 4 Killed During Mourning for Kenyan Opposition Leader Raila Odinga
Four people perished in the capital city when security forces shot and used teargas to break up massive crowds at a stadium where political figure Raila Odinga's remains was displayed for homage.
National Figure Mourned
The politician, who had been a major force in Kenyan politics for decades, died on midweek at age 80 while in hospital care in India.
He campaigned vigorously for democratic systems, and we benefit from those freedoms today because of his work.
Disorder Erupts at Venue
Thousands devotees assembled on roadways from sunrise, with mayhem breaking out when a large crowd breached a gate at Nairobi's main stadium, leading to armed forces to discharge weapons upward.
- Two people perished from bullets at the location
- Fatalities later rose to 4
- Scores of people got wounded
- Law enforcement deployed chemical agents to clear numerous mourners
Airport Event and Parliament Situation
Previously that day, countless of supporters temporarily invaded the capital's aviation hub, interrupting a official event where the nation's leader and other officials were receiving Odinga's corpse with military honors.
This incident caused a temporary halt of flight activities.
Crowds also flooded nearby roads and sought to penetrate the legislative building, where the administration had first arranged the public viewing.
Political Heritage and Community Devotion
Though mainly known as an opposition figure, Odinga became head of government in 2008 and also established a alliance with Ruto last year in a public service characterized by evolving coalitions.
He inspired strong loyalty among supporters, especially in his Luo community based in the country's west, many of whom maintain he was deprived of the presidency by electoral fraud.
Many of Odinga's followers, who were not yet born in 1991 when Kenya established itself as a multi-faction governance, paid tribute to Odinga's efforts as an campaigner.
