Kenya Holds State Funeral for Raila Odinga Amid Deadly Crowd Chaos

Kenya held a state funeral for opposition leader Raila Odinga, who died at 80. The event in Nairobi drew tens of thousands of mourners, including President William Ruto and other African dignitaries, but turned chaotic when security forces opened fire on the crowd, killing at least two and injuring many. Odinga, known as “Baba,” was a key figure in Kenya’s democracy and the 2010 constitution. His body will be taken to western Kenya for further tributes and a private burial.

Kenya conducted a state funeral for the esteemed opposition leader Raila Odinga, one day after security forces opened fire to disperse mourners at a stadium hosting a public viewing of his body, resulting in multiple casualties. The incident at the stadium left two people dead and nearly 200 others injured, according to medical NGO Doctors Without Borders. Members of the public had lined up at the Nairobi football stadium to pay their respects to the former prime minister following a memorial service.

Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of people gathered at the Nyayo National Stadium under heavy security. Attendees waved white handkerchiefs, danced, and celebrated Odinga’s life. The venue was adorned with large banners featuring his portrait, while some mourners blew whistles and vuvuzelas, the colorful plastic horns popular in the region.

The funeral ceremony was attended by President William Ruto, as well as top officials from Kenya’s parliament and judiciary. Among the African dignitaries present was Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Odinga, aged 80, passed away from a suspected heart attack at a health clinic in southern India on Wednesday, sparking widespread grief across Kenya. Affectionately known as “Baba,” meaning “father” in Swahili, he was considered one of the most significant political figures of his generation.

Although Odinga was mainly recognized as an opposition leader, he served as Kenya’s prime minister in 2008 and entered into political alliances with former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2018 and with President Ruto last year, reflecting a career of shifting political partnerships. Despite contesting the presidency five times without success, he played a crucial role in restoring multi-party democracy in Kenya during the 1990s and was instrumental in the drafting and adoption of the widely acclaimed 2010 constitution.

Attendees at Friday’s funeral paid homage to Odinga’s activism and leadership. “Raila Odinga, the father of democracy in Kenya, was a selfless leader who would risk everything – even his life – to make Kenya work,” said 24-year-old Jean Jerry Abeka in a statement to Reuters.

However, Odinga’s later political moves stirred controversy. Reporting from the funeral, Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi noted that youth-led antigovernment protests over the past year had led to criticism of Odinga, as his party aligned with the government, prompting some to label him a betrayer. Nevertheless, Soi observed that despite lingering anger, many mourners focused on honoring his lifelong contributions to the country.

Chaos also erupted on Thursday during the repatriation of Odinga’s body from India to Nairobi. Large crowds surged toward a VIP gate at the stadium, prompting security forces to open fire. Rights group VOCAL Africa confirmed that at least three people were killed, while police also reported three fatalities. Kenyan news channels KTN News and Citizen TV reported four deaths, with dozens more injured.

Odinga’s body is scheduled to travel next to western Kenya, his family’s home region, where additional large gatherings are expected on Saturday. A private burial service is planned for Sunday. His passing has left a significant leadership gap within the opposition, with no clear successor as Kenya approaches the potentially contentious 2027 elections.