At least two people were killed in Nairobi after Kenyan police opened fire on crowds of mourners gathered to pay their respects to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The politician died of a heart attack in India on Wednesday, and his body was flown back to Kenya on Thursday morning. A public viewing was scheduled for a 60,000‑capacity soccer stadium in Nairobi ahead of the weekend funeral.
Tensions rose when a crowd surged and tried to breach a gate at the stadium. Police responded with live ammunition and tear gas, prompting a chaotic stampede as mourners fled toward the exits. Kenya’s head of police operations, Adamson Bungei, said the shooting killed two people, although local media reports suggest the death toll could be higher, possibly reaching four. An unknown number of people were injured in the ensuing turmoil. Calm was eventually restored, and the public viewing took place that evening.
Friday has been declared a public holiday, and a state funeral service will be held at a different football stadium in Nairobi. Another public viewing is planned for Saturday in the western county of Kisumu, near Odinga’s rural home. The former Prime Minister will receive a state funeral on Sunday at his home village of Bondo in western Kenya.
Odinga’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief across the country, with thousands gathering to honor the former leader. As Kenya prepares for the state funeral, concerns about public safety and security remain. The government has pledged a dignified farewell, scheduling a series of events and ceremonies over the coming days, while the international community watches Kenya navigate this period of mourning and reflection.
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