Gunfire, panic as mourners gather for Raila Odinga in Nairobi

NAIROBI — Panic erupted astatine Kasarani Stadium successful Nairobi connected Thursday arsenic information forces fired shots to power surging crowds gathered to presumption the assemblage of Kenya’s precocious absorption leader, Raila Odinga, whose remains were repatriated from India earlier successful the day.

AFP journalists reported that astatine slightest 3 radical sustained injuries erstwhile constabulary opened occurrence to disperse mourners pushing toward the stands. One idiosyncratic was seen lying motionless connected the ground, bleeding from the head.

Odinga, 80, 1 of Kenya’s astir salient governmental figures and a awesome of antiauthoritarian struggle, died connected Wednesday astatine a wellness installation successful confederate India, prompting a nationwide outpouring of grief.

Affectionately known arsenic “Baba” (Father), helium made 5 unsuccessful bids for the presidency but remained a large unit successful the country’s governmental evolution.

Thousands of supporters had earlier gathered astatine Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to person his coffin, forcing authorities to concisely suspend formation operations. Initially, Odinga’s assemblage was scheduled to beryllium taken to parliament, but ample crowds astatine the gates prompted officials to reroute the procession to Kasarani Stadium connected the outskirts of the capital.

Witnesses said hostility mounted arsenic mourners struggled to summation introduction into the stadium, culminating successful gunfire and the usage of teardrop state by information officers, which sent radical fleeing successful panic.

“Why would constabulary usage teardrop state and ammunition to disperse mourners?” statesmanlike campaigner Martha Karua wrote connected X, sharing a video of the chaotic scene.

Shortly aft the incident, President William Ruto arrived astatine the venue alongside members of Odinga’s household and elder authorities officials to wage their respects successful a backstage country wrong the stadium.

Calm was aboriginal restored, and thousands of mourners continued to queue to presumption Odinga’s assemblage lying successful state. President Ruto has declared 7 days of nationalist mourning successful honour of the precocious leader, with a authorities ceremonial scheduled for Friday successful Nairobi. Odinga volition beryllium laid to remainder connected Sunday successful his hometown of Bondo, occidental Kenya.

Across the country, vigils were held successful remembrance of the seasoned absorption leader. In Bondo, immense crowds gathered to hole for his last travel home.

“We came to person an icon, a giant,” said Michael Omondi, a younker person successful Odinga’s party. “Baba was the lone idiosyncratic we believed could instrumentality america to Canaan — the promised land.”

Born connected January 7, 1945, to Kenya’s aboriginal vice president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila Odinga spent overmuch of his aboriginal governmental vocation successful situation oregon exile, opposing the autocratic regularisation of Daniel arap Moi. He served arsenic Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 but ne'er achieved his long-held imagination of becoming president.

His passing leaves a large void successful Kenya’s absorption politics, with nary wide successor emerging arsenic the state heads toward the 2027 wide elections.

AFP

The station Gunfire, panic arsenic mourners stitchery for Raila Odinga successful Nairobi appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.