NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Heavy security has been deployed to Kenya’s western city of Kisumu ahead of the final public viewing of the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, following the deaths of five people during the last two public funeral events.
Military officers, regular police, and air surveillance teams were present Saturday at the soccer stadium where thousands of mourners stayed overnight, awaiting the opportunity to pay their respects to Odinga.
Raila Odinga was a respected and significant figure in Kenya and beyond. A veteran politician, he was lauded by many—including former U.S. President Barack Obama—for his tireless fight for democracy.
Odinga passed away Wednesday in India at the age of 80. He is expected to be buried Sunday at his rural home in Bondo, western Kenya.
Since his body arrived in the country Thursday, Odinga’s supporters—known for their passion and resilience—have been turning out by the thousands. However, the funeral events have been marked by tragedy.
On Thursday, during the first public viewing at a soccer stadium, police fired live bullets and tear gas amid a confrontation, resulting in three deaths. On Friday, a stampede broke out shortly after dignitaries left the state funeral service venue, leaving two people dead and 163 others injured.
During the service, Odinga’s widow, Ida, appealed to Kenyans to mourn peacefully. His brother, Oburu, urged mourners to avoid actions that might provoke police use of force. “Raila should not be teargassed in death. He has been teargassed enough when he was alive. Please let us not cause a situation where he is teargassed again,” he said.
Odinga ran for Kenya’s presidency five times over three decades. Although he never secured the presidency, he is revered for a lifetime of activism that helped steer Kenya toward a vibrant multiparty democracy.
On Friday morning, Odinga’s body lay in state at the parliament—a rare honor reserved only for the president and former presidents.
Kenya’s President William Ruto eulogized Odinga as a patriot and selfless statesman who helped steady the country. Notably, Ruto had campaigned for Odinga in the contentious 2007 election, which was marred by violence.
The two men became rivals in subsequent elections, including the most recent one in 2022. However, after months of anti-government protests earlier this year, they signed a historic agreement that included appointing opposition party members to Cabinet positions, marking a new chapter in Kenya’s political landscape.
https://wtop.com/world/2025/10/heavy-security-after-deadly-violence-in-kenya-as-thousands-turn-out-to-mourn-former-pm-odinga/
