Kenya held a state funeral on Friday for Raila Odinga, the country’s most iconic opposition figure, just a day after security forces fatally opened fire on mourners gathered to pay their respects, leaving at least three people dead.
Odinga, 80, died of a suspected heart attack at a health clinic in southern India on Wednesday, sparking an outpouring of grief across Kenya. Revered by millions and affectionately known as “Baba” (father), Odinga was widely regarded as the defining political figure of his generation.
Despite never clinching the presidency after five bids, Odinga played a pivotal role in shaping Kenya’s modern political landscape. As prime minister from 2008 to 2013, he was instrumental in ushering in multi-party democracy during the 1990s and was a driving force behind Kenya’s landmark 2010 constitution, widely hailed for its progressive reforms.
Thursday’s repatriation of his body was marked by chaotic scenes as tens of thousands of mourners gathered at a Nairobi stadium where he was to lie in state. According to the human rights group VOCAL Africa, at least three people were killed when security forces opened fire as crowds surged toward a VIP entrance at the Kasarani stadium.
“Three bodies from Kasarani have been received this evening at City Mortuary,” the group confirmed on X.
Friday’s funeral at Nyayo Stadium was attended by President William Ruto and several regional leaders, including Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The ceremony was marked by solemn tributes and military honors, as Kenyans continued to mourn a man many viewed as the moral compass of the nation.
Odinga’s body is set to be transported to his ancestral home in western Kenya, where tens of thousands more are expected to attend public memorial events on Saturday. A private family burial is scheduled for Sunday.
His death leaves a significant leadership void within the opposition, with no clear successor in sight as the country approaches a potentially contentious general election in 2027.
AFP
