- Kenyans gathered at Kasarani Stadium to view the body of former prime minister Raila Odinga and pay their final respects
- However, things took a rather dramatic turn when police began dispersing the crowd by lobbing teargas and firing ammunition
- In the process, two people have reportedly lost their lives in an event that was meant to be peaceful and in honour of the late political veteran
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya
Nairobi: Chaotic scenes erupted at the Kasarani Stadium ahead of the body viewing of the former prime minister Raila Odinga.
Source: Facebook
This happened when police fired teargas and gunshots to disperse mourners gathered at the premises.
How many people died during Raila’s public viewing?
In the process, two people have reportedly lost their lives.
Footage captured the bodies lying on the ground as a large crowd gathered around them, calling out to the police.
Other people were heard screaming, likely in shock at how the event took a tragic turn.
“This is not a robber bullet. They are killing people! They are killing people bana,” one man was heard shouting angrily.
“They have killed him. That one is gone. They have killed our friend,” another man is heard saying.
The group of mourners was captured on a video running helter-skelter seeking cover as tensions intensified at the stadium.
Others were seen running towards the exit as smoke covered some parts of the stadium.
One person was seen kneeling and raising his hands amid the chaos, asking about the whereabouts of the ODM party leader’s body.
Murkomen stops police from dispersing crowd
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who was at the Kasarani Stadium, was captured signalling police officers to stop lobbing teargas.
When he saw the chaos was getting out of hand, he moved from the place he was standing to the middle of the stadium, where he addressed some of the police officers.
He afterwards signalled those who were far to stop lobbying tears using his hands. Just when he was about to go back to his seat, another teargas canister was lobbed, causing him to be infuriated.
Murkomen was in the company of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja and the Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, and former police boss Adamson Bungei, among others.
Kenyans condemn killings during Raila’s event
The fatal incident that occurred at Kasarani caused an uproar among Kenyans, with some taking to their social media platforms to condemn the act.
Anthony Alexandria Irungu:
“This is unacceptable and avoidable. Blame it on poor planning by the government and lack of civility by the mourners.”
Law-abiding citizen:
“Wengeweka live screens hapo kwa field and focus the cameras on the body to ease the pressure. We lack creativity and reasoning in times of crisis!”
Alchemist:
“The same incompetence in handling Kenyans. What was the motive for killing mourners who asked them to go to Kasarani? Did you ask them to go there and meet death?”
Becklynne Linares:
“For how long will our national flag cover victims of police brutality? All these people had gone to do was mourn.”
Did Ruto lead Kenyans in viewing Raila’s body?
The coffin bearing the body of the former prime minister Raila, was finally opened for the public to view.
President William Ruto and former president Uhuru Kenyatta led Kenyans in viewing the body of the late political veteran.
Raila’s family, led by Mama Ida Odinga, were also among the first people to get a glimpse of the body of the fallen leader.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
