Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in
Mamboleo, Kisumu, as thousands of mourners pushed and shoved to view the body
of the late veteran opposition leader, Raila Amollo Odinga.
The massive crowd, which began streaming into
the 30,000-capacity stadium as early as 5 a.m., quickly overwhelmed the
security personnel deployed to manage the situation.
Despite efforts by police and military officers to control entry, the
surging crowds broke through several barriers in their rush to access the main viewing
area.
The mourners, many waving twigs, flags, and portraits of the late leader, sang songs of liberation and praise as they forced their way forward.
The atmosphere, initially solemn, turned chaotic as the crowd pressed toward
the tent where Raila’s body lay in state.
In the commotion, several mourners fainted
from exhaustion and suffocation. Emergency response teams from the Kenya Red
Cross and St. John Ambulance were forced to intervene, carrying the weak and
unconscious to safety.
Medical tents set up within the stadium were overwhelmed as volunteers and medics rushed to provide first aid.
Police officers struggled to restore order,
forming human chains to control the flow of people into the inner section of
the stadium.
Military personnel also joined in efforts to manage the swelling crowd,
ensuring that the public viewing could continue.
Despite the confusion, thousands of mourners
braved the heat and congestion, standing patiently in long queues to pay their
last respects.
Many were seen in tears, waving small branches and chanting Raila’s name as
they inched closer to the flag-draped casket.
The public viewing formed part of the national
mourning events planned in honour of the late former Prime Minister, whose
decades-long political career and advocacy for democracy left a lasting imprint
on the country.
Authorities had earlier urged mourners to
remain calm and orderly to allow everyone a chance to participate in the
exercise. Security officers continued to make announcements through public
address systems, directing the crowd to maintain queues and exit immediately
after viewing the body.
According to the official programme, the
public viewing was scheduled to continue until 3 p.m. before the body was
transported to Siaya County for subsequent ceremonies ahead of burial in his
Bondo home.
Despite the challenges, the massive turnout in
Kisumu reflected the depth of emotion and respect felt by Kenyans from across
the country as they gathered to bid farewell to a man many considered the face
of Kenya’s long struggle for democracy.
