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Kenya held a state funeral for renowned opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi on Friday, just a day after security personnel fired into large mourning crowds, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals.
Odinga, aged 80, passed away from an apparent heart attack at a healthcare facility in southern India on Wednesday, leading to widespread grief throughout his homeland.
Endearingly referred to as “Baba” (father), Odinga was arguably the most influential political figure of his era in Kenya.
Although he held the position of prime minister from 2008 to 2013, he was unable to secure the presidency after five attempts.
However, he was instrumental in restoring multi-party democracy in the 1990s and is recognised as the driving force behind a well-regarded constitution that was enacted in 2010.
On Thursday, there were tumultuous scenes as his remains were brought back from India and taken to a stadium on the outskirts of Nairobi for public viewing.
As crowds pressed toward a VIP entrance at one point, law enforcement opened fire, resulting in the deaths of at least three people, as reported by the prominent rights organisation VOCAL Africa.
The group said on X that it had verified “three bodies from Kasarani (stadium) have been received this evening at City Mortuary.”
President William Ruto was present at the state funeral on Friday, held in another Nairobi stadium, Nyayo, along with regional dignitaries like Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Odinga’s remains will subsequently travel to western Kenya, where his family hails from, with expectations of even larger crowds on Saturday, followed by a private burial service on Sunday.
His passing creates a leadership void in the opposition, with no clear successor emerging as Kenya approaches a potentially tumultuous election in 2027.
