Kenya held a state funeral for veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday, a day after several people were killed when security forces opened fire to disperse crowds during a public viewing of his body at a stadium.
Medical sources in Nairobi reported that more than 10 mourners were injured in a stampede at the football stadium hosting the ceremony, as citizens lined up after working hours to pay their final respects to the former prime minister.
Earlier in the day, tens of thousands had gathered at the national stadium under tight security, waving white handkerchiefs and dancing as the venue was decorated with large banners bearing Odinga’s image, accompanied by the sounds of whistles and colorful vuvuzelas.
President William Ruto attended the ceremony alongside the heads of parliament and the judiciary, while Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud joined other prominent African dignitaries in paying tribute.
Odinga’s Death
Odinga, aged 80, died on Wednesday from a heart attack at a medical clinic in southern India, sparking an outpouring of grief across Kenya.
Known affectionately as “Baba” (meaning “father” in Swahili), Odinga was one of the most influential political figures of his generation in Kenya.
Despite his reputation as an opposition icon, he served as prime minister in 2008, brokered a political pact with former president Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018, and later with President Ruto last year—marking a long career defined by shifting political alliances.
Although he failed to win the presidency despite five attempts, Odinga played a pivotal role in restoring multi-party democracy in the 1990s and is credited with advancing the widely praised 2010 constitution.
Mourners at Friday’s ceremony hailed Odinga’s lifelong dedication to political activism.
“Raila Odinga, the father of Kenyan democracy, was an honest leader who risked everything—even his life—for Kenya’s progress,” said Jean Jeri Abeka, a 24-year-old attendee.
However, Al Jazeera correspondent Catherine Soi, reporting from the funeral, noted that Odinga had become a divisive figure in recent years.
She explained that youth-led anti-government protests erupted over the past year, and Odinga’s party had aligned itself with the ruling government, prompting accusations of betrayal from some supporters.
“But now,” she added, “despite the anger, many say they want to remember him for what he gave this country.”
Deadly Chaos During Procession
On Thursday, chaotic scenes unfolded as Odinga’s body was returned from India and taken to a stadium on the outskirts of Nairobi for public viewing.
As crowds surged toward the VIP gate, security forces opened fire, killing at least three people, according to the human rights group Focal Africa.
The organization said on X that it had confirmed the reception of three bodies from Kasarani Stadium at the city morgue later that evening.
Police also confirmed three fatalities, while Kenyan media outlets reported four deaths and dozens of injuries.
Odinga’s body will be transported on Saturday to his home region in western Kenya, where massive crowds are expected, before a private burial ceremony on Sunday.
His death leaves a leadership vacuum within the opposition, with no clear successor, as Kenya heads toward a potentially tense 2027 election.