🔗 Share this article

Four people were killed in the capital city when security forces discharged weapons and used teargas to scatter huge gatherings at a stadium where statesman Raila Odinga's body was on public view.

National Leader Remembered

The statesman, who had been a significant presence in the country's governance for decades, passed away on that day at age 80 while undergoing healthcare in the subcontinent.

He fought tirelessly for political pluralism, and we experience those liberties today because of his efforts.

Chaos Unfolds at Arena

Numerous supporters gathered on thoroughfares from early morning, with mayhem breaking out when massive group forced open a barrier at the city's central arena, prompting soldiers to fire in the air.

• Two people were shot dead at the location
• Fatalities later rose to four people
• Numerous people sustained injuries
• Law enforcement deployed chemical agents to disperse numerous grievers

Airport Disruption and Parliament Situation

Previously that day, countless of grievers momentarily entered the city's air terminal, disrupting a formal proceeding where President William Ruto and other officials were accepting Odinga's corpse with armed forces tribute.

This incident caused a brief stoppage of aviation services.

Assemblies also flooded nearby roads and sought to penetrate parliament, where the administration had originally scheduled the open visitation.

National Impact and Ethnic Support

Though mainly known as an political challenger, Odinga became head of government in 2008 and also struck a alliance with the president last year in a public service marked by shifting alliances.

He generated passionate devotion among supporters, particularly in his cultural background based in western Kenya, many of whom believe he was denied the presidency by electoral fraud.

Many of Odinga's followers, who were unborn in 1991 when Kenya became a multi-faction governance, expressed respect to Odinga's efforts as an activist.