Stampede at the funeral of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, 2 killed

A stampede broke out at a football stadium on Friday during the state funeral of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, killing two people and injuring more than 100 others.

Kenyans came out in droves to mourn Odinga following the democratic reformer’s death at the age of 80 on Wednesday, highlighting the influence of outsiders on the respected politician’s political career. East African Country.

Stampede in the stadium of the capital nairobiAs the public viewed his body after the service. Doctors Without Bordersknown by its French abbreviation msfIt said two people died and 163 patients were treated at the scene, 34 of whom were referred to hospitals.

The Kenyan Red Cross said the chaos left “many people in need of urgent care.” A source at the country’s main referral hospital said they had received dozens of patients.

Odinga’s brother Oburu on Friday night urged Kenyans to remain calm and mourn peacefully.

“Tear gas should not have been fired on Raila when he died. A lot of tear gas was fired on him when he was alive, please let us not create a situation where tear gas is fired on him again,” he said.

Heavy security after the death of 3 people on Thursday

Thousands of people filled the stadium where Odinga’s coffin was covered with the national flag for the Anglican Church service. They chanted slogans and held up pictures of Odinga, while some carried twigs, which symbolize peace and unity in Kenyan tradition.

There was heavy security at the stadium as police tried to control the huge crowd at another stadium following the death of three people during a public demonstration on Thursday.

At least 10 people were injured at Thursday’s event when police fired bullets and tear gas into the growing crowd trying to reach the pavilion where the coffin was kept.

a respected politician

Odinga ran for President of Kenya five times over three decades, and although he never succeeded in becoming president, he is revered for a life of activism that helped move Kenya toward becoming a vibrant multi-party democracy.

Odinga’s body lay in state at Parliament House on Friday morning before the funeral, an honor reserved only for presidents and former presidents.

President William Ruto said Odinga deserves recognition for being a legislator for 15 years, adding that he “played a key role in shaping some of the most consequential legislation in the history of our republic.”

Ruto campaigned for Odinga in 2007 – a disputed election marred by violence. The two men were rivals in subsequent elections, including the recent election in 2022.

After months of anti-government protests, the two leaders signed an agreement this year under which opposition party members were appointed to cabinet posts.

On Friday, Ruto led mourners in singing Odinga’s favorite song, Harry Belafonte’s “Jamaica Farewell,” and said Odinga had helped him stabilize the country at the beginning of the year.

“Whenever the nation needed to rise above itself, he always did so,” he said.

Anglican Bishop David Codeia, who led the service, urged leaders present to be “selfless” like Odinga and shun corruption. Odinga was a practicing member of the church.

Political analyst Herman Manyora told the Associated Press that the love displayed by so many mourners was a reflection of his work for democracy.

“You can’t point to anyone who is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of his people,” said Manyora, who works at the University of Nairobi.

Odinga’s family paid tribute

Among the mourners were Odinga’s wife Ida, daughters Winnie and Rosemary and son Raila Odinga Jr.

Ida urged Kenyans to mourn peacefully and said her husband abhorred dishonesty and greed. Winnie, who was with him in India, led the mourners in chants in the local Luo language. He said his father died “strong, with dignity and pride” as he made two to five rounds of his morning walk to the hospital where he was being treated.

His son Junior, wearing his father’s beaded hat and fly whisk, said he would look after the family as the only surviving son.

Kenyans will get another opportunity to view Odinga’s body on Saturday in the western city of Kisumu, near his rural home in Bondo, where he will be buried on Sunday. His family said they had requested to be buried as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours, which is unusual for popular leaders in this East African country.