Kenya holds state funeral for opposition leader Odinga after mourners killed

Kenya held a authorities ceremonial for revered absorption person Raila Odinga successful Nairobi connected Friday, a time aft information forces opened occurrence to disperse immense crowds of mourners, sidesplitting astatine slightest three.

Odinga, 80, died from a suspected bosom onslaught astatine a wellness session successful confederate India connected Wednesday, triggering a immense outpouring of grief for a antheral known affectionately arsenic “Baba” (father) by galore Kenyans.

“He walked among america arsenic a antheral but besides charged among america arsenic a question for change, a question for justice… for a amended and greater Kenya,” President William Ruto told the crowd, gathered astatine Nairobi’s Nyayo stadium for the funeral.

Arguably the astir important governmental fig of his procreation successful Kenya, Odinga served arsenic premier curate from 2008 to 2013 but ne'er succeeded successful winning the presidency contempt 5 attempts.

But helium outlasted galore rivals and is credited arsenic a large subordinate successful returning Kenya to multi-party ideology successful the 1990s and overseeing the wide praised constitution of 2010.

“I person state of code due to the fact that of Raila… I’m present due to the fact that helium is the father,” said Paul Oloo, a protagonist astatine the funeral.

There were chaotic scenes a time earlier arsenic Odinga’s assemblage was repatriated from India and taken to different stadium connected the outskirts of Nairobi to beryllium viewed by supporters.

As immense crowds surged towards a VIP gate, information forces opened fire, sidesplitting astatine slightest 3 people, according to salient rights radical VOCAL Africa based connected accusation from the metropolis morgue.

It was not wide if the information forces fired straight into the assemblage oregon utilized unrecorded rounds. Autopsies are owed connected Tuesday.

– ‘Excessive usage of force’ –

AFP met families of the victims astatine the metropolis morgue connected Friday and saw photos of the bodies that appeared to amusement slug wounds.

“It’s not casual to instrumentality it,” said the woman of 1 victim, 40-year-old Evans Kiche, who was changeable successful the head.

Another unfortunate was named arsenic Vincent Otieno Ogutu. The 3rd has yet to beryllium identified.

“The excessive usage of unit against mourners is wholly unwarranted,” said Hussein Khalid, caput of VOCAL Africa, astatine the morgue.

“We are calling connected the constabulary to workout utmost restraint… We don’t privation to spot much deaths associated with this funeral,” helium added.

Odinga’s assemblage volition adjacent question to occidental Kenya, his family’s location region, wherever much immense crowds are expected connected Saturday, earlier a backstage burial work connected Sunday.

His decease leaves a enactment vacuum successful the opposition, with nary evident successor arsenic Kenya heads into a perchance volatile predetermination successful 2027.

AFP

The station Kenya holds authorities ceremonial for absorption person Odinga aft mourners killed appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.