At least four people have been confirmed dead and dozens injured in Nairobi after police fired live bullets and teargas to disperse massive crowds that had gathered to view the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, according to reports from local media and eyewitnesses.
The chaos unfolded at the Kasarani Stadium, where Raila’s body was lying in state, following its arrival earlier in the day from India. The veteran opposition leader, a towering figure in Kenyan politics who served as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013, passed away on Wednesday, aged 80, while receiving medical treatment abroad.
Witnesses described the situation as tense and tragic, as thousands of mourners many of them emotional and desperate to catch a glimpse of Raila’s casket breached security barriers, overwhelming police and military officers on site.
“The crowd surged forward, breaking through the main gates,” said a Reuters correspondent at the scene. “Soldiers responded by firing in the air, but panic spread quickly. Teargas filled the air, and people started running in every direction.”
According to a police source, at least two people were fatally shot at the stadium, while KTN News and Citizen TV later reported that the death toll had risen to four, with scores of others injured during the stampede and chaos.
Images broadcast on Kenyan television showed thousands of mourners fleeing as tear gas canisters exploded inside the stadium. Medical teams were seen attending to the injured while security forces cleared the area, leaving the stadium largely deserted.
Earlier in the morning, similar scenes of unrest had been witnessed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where thousands of supporters stormed the runway during the arrival of Raila’s body aboard the RAO001 aircraft. The disruption forced authorities to suspend airport operations for two hours as officials, including President William Ruto, struggled to maintain order during the military honours ceremony.
The unrest continued through Nairobi’s streets, as emotional mourners poured into nearby roads and even attempted to breach Parliament buildings, where the government had initially scheduled the body viewing before moving it to Kasarani.
Despite the turmoil, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki assured Kenyans that preparations for Raila’s State Funeral at Nyayo Stadium on Friday morning would proceed as planned, with appeals for calm and respect.
Raila Odinga, a five-time presidential contender and long-serving opposition leader, commanded deep loyalty from his supporters particularly among the Luo community in western Kenya many of whom believe he was denied the presidency through electoral malpractice.
His death has triggered an outpouring of grief and emotion across the nation, with many Kenyans paying tribute to his lifelong struggle for democracy, justice, and reform.
“He fought tirelessly for the freedoms we now enjoy,” said Felix Ambani Uneck, a university student who had traveled to Nairobi to attend the viewing. “Even those who didn’t live through his early struggles know that Kenya’s democracy exists today because of his sacrifice.”
As the nation mourns, authorities have urged restraint and promised to review security protocols ahead of the upcoming State Funeral.
The burial is expected to take place on Sunday in Bondo, Raila’s ancestral home, where he will be laid to rest beside his parents, in line with Luo traditions and family wishes.
