Police in Kenya fired tear gas and shots into the air on Thursday to disperse more than 60,000 people gathered at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium for the memorial of former Prime Minister and opposition leader Raila Odinga, who died at the age of 80 while receiving treatment in India. 

Violence broke out when some supporters forced their way toward the VIP section where Odinga’s body was being displayed. Local media reported that frustrated mourners began throwing chairs and stones at security officers, prompting police to respond with force. 

The tear gas and gunfire triggered panic, causing a stampede that emptied the stadium within minutes. Videos circulating online showed several injured people, including one with a head wound. Authorities have not confirmed any fatalities. 

Odinga’s body had arrived in Kenya around 2:30 p.m. local time after a four-hour funeral procession from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Thousands lined the streets to pay tribute to the late statesman, one of the most influential figures in modern African politics. 

President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Odinga’s family were present when the unrest began. After order was restored, a brief private ceremony was held inside the stadium, led by chaplains, where officials and family members paid their respects. 

Later, the coffin was brought outside again, allowing thousands of mourners to offer their final farewells. The crowd, now calmer, sang hymns and chanted Odinga’s name. 

Earlier in the day, chaos had already erupted at the Nairobi airport when thousands of supporters broke through security barriers to see the casket, forcing authorities to suspend flight operations for more than two hours. 

Respect and sorrow for Raila Odinga

The Kenyan government has declared seven days of national mourning for Odinga, leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Despite running for president five times, he never won, often alleging electoral fraud. 

Odinga served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 in a coalition government formed after the 2007 post-election violence, which left more than 1,100 dead and displaced over 600,000 people. 

The memorial was initially planned for the Parliament grounds, but the government moved it to the larger Kasarani Stadium due to the overwhelming turnout. 

A towering yet divisive figure in Africa, Odinga’s death marks the end of an era in Kenya’s turbulent democratic journey.