One person reportedly shot dead in Kasarani melee

One person has reportedly been shot dead during a chaotic scene at Kasarani Stadium ahead of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body viewing.

Thousands of mourners have gathered at the stadium to pay their final respects to the former prime minister.

Earlier, police were forced to hurl teargas to control an impatient crowd that was surging at the Kasarani International Stadium, Nairobi.

A section of the mourners were seen attacking police officers by throwing stones at them. Thousands of mourners had gathered at the stadium to pay their final respects.

A crowd was seen building up towards the presidential dais.

President William Ruto is among a host of national leaders who had arrived at the Kasarani ahead of the public viewing ceremony for the late Raila.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries led by Kipchumba Murkomen (Interior), and several elected leaders from across the political divide had also arrived.

This came after a last-minute change to the original plan, which had scheduled the public viewing at the Parliament buildings.

The abrupt shift to the programme was announced by the National Steering Committee.

The Kenya Airways aircraft carrying Raila’s body touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at exactly 9:30 am, where it was received by President Ruto, members of the Raila family, and a host of elected leaders.

A sombre mood filled the air as the casket draped in the national flag was lowered from the plane.

Following the arrival, the body was to be moved to Lee Funeral Home and then to Parliament.

Military officers and morticians who had initially been stationed at Lee and Parliament were seen packing up and leaving after the venue change was confirmed.

“At first, everything was set at Parliament Buildings, but the crowd was simply uncontrollable. The mortician and his team have now left in the military van for Kasarani,” a senior official at Lee Funeral Home told journalists.

Preparations at Kasarani are under tight security, with thousands of mourners expected to file past the body to pay their final respects.

Ruto, family members and dignitaries present will be the first to view Raila’s body before the public is allowed access for the official state viewing ceremony.

By early morning, crowds of mourners had already gathered outside Parliament, with others attempting to scale the perimeter wall. Long queues stretched along City Hall Way, snaking past City Hall and toward Parliament Road.