Calamity Hits as 4 Die During Memorial for Kenya's Opposition Leader Raila Odinga
Four people lost their lives in Nairobi when law enforcement opened fire and employed chemical irritants to disperse massive crowds at a stadium where statesman Raila Odinga's remains was lying in state.
Political Figure Remembered
The politician, who remained a significant presence in Kenyan politics for many years, succumbed on Wednesday at 80 years old while receiving medical treatment in India.
He fought tirelessly for multi-party democracy, and we experience those freedoms today because of his struggle.
Turmoil Breaks Out at Venue
Countless devotees assembled on the streets from sunrise, with chaos erupting when massive group breached a entrance at the capital's primary venue, causing military personnel to fire in the air.
- Two people perished from bullets at the venue
- Death toll later rose to four people
- Many individuals were hurt
- Law enforcement deployed chemical agents to disperse numerous mourners
Airport Event and Government Building Confrontation
During the morning, numerous of mourners briefly stormed the city's air terminal, disrupting a ceremony where the head of state and dignitaries were accepting Odinga's remains with military honors.
This situation led to a temporary halt of aviation services.
Assemblies also overwhelmed nearby roads and tried to enter the government complex, where the government had initially planned the open visitation.
National Legacy and Ethnic Backing
Though mainly known as an political challenger, Odinga assumed the role of prime minister in 2008 and also struck a political pact with the president last year in a career characterized by changing partnerships.
He commanded intense commitment among followers, particularly in his ethnic group based in western Kenya, many of whom maintain he was deprived of the nation's leadership by electoral fraud.
Many of Odinga's mourners, who were not yet born in 1991 when Kenya established itself as a multi-party democracy, offered homage to Odinga's efforts as an advocate.