🔗 Share this article

A quartet of persons lost their lives in Kenya's capital when armed personnel shot and employed chemical irritants to disperse huge gatherings at a venue where opposition leader Raila Odinga's corpse was lying in state.

National Leader Mourned

Odinga, who had been a significant presence in the country's governance for a long period, succumbed on midweek at 80 years old while in hospital care in India.

He campaigned vigorously for political pluralism, and we are enjoying those liberties today because of his efforts.

Disorder Erupts at Venue

Thousands supporters gathered on thoroughfares from dawn, with chaos erupting when a large crowd breached a barrier at the capital's primary venue, prompting armed forces to shoot skyward.

• Two individuals perished from bullets at the location
• Casualties subsequently increased to four
• Many individuals were hurt
• Law enforcement deployed chemical agents to disperse numerous mourners

Aviation Hub Event and Parliament Standoff

Previously that day, thousands of supporters temporarily invaded the city's air terminal, disrupting a formal proceeding where President William Ruto and dignitaries were accepting Odinga's body with military honors.

This situation caused a temporary halt of airport operations.

Assemblies also occupied adjacent streets and tried to enter parliament, where the government had initially planned the open visitation.

National Impact and Community Devotion

Though mainly known as an government critic, Odinga served as prime minister in 2008 and also struck a agreement with the leader last year in a career characterized by evolving coalitions.

He generated strong loyalty among followers, particularly in his Luo community based in the country's west, many of whom maintain he was denied the nation's leadership by vote manipulation.

Countless of Odinga's supporters, who were not living in 1991 when Kenya transitioned to a pluralistic political system, offered homage to Odinga's work as an advocate.