Dozens of mourners were injured Saturday during a public viewing memorial for Kenya’s opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kisumu, the Kenyan Red Cross said.
It comes after at least five people died during other public funeral events since Odinga died at a hospital in India on Wednesday.
The 80-year-old’s state funeral was held in Nairobi on Friday, but Saturday marked one of the most significant days of mourning, as his body lay in state at a stadium in his political heartland for a final public viewing.
Huge crowds as Odinga’s body is taken home
There were scuffles as crowds surged forward to see the coffin at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium. Security personnel, some mounted on horses, struggled to hold mourners back.
Many had stayed overnight, waiting for an the opportunity to view Odinga’s body. Some fainted due to the heat and long lines during the public viewing.
“It was much better than Nairobi. We were ready for it,” Philip Nyaswa, a member of the emergency team in Kisumu said.
The road procession to Odinga’s homestead in Bondo was canceled to avoid the risk of stampedes. Instead, the body will be flown directly to Bondo, according to local media.
On Thursday, security forces opened fire to disperse a crowd at a Nairobi stadium where Odinga lay in state, killing at least three. The next day, a stampede at his state funeral led by President Ruto left two dead and dozens injured.
Odinga was a major figure in Kenyan politics and served as prime minister from 2008 until 2013. He also ran for the presidency five times over three decades.
Edited by: Karl Sexton
