WEB DESK: Several mourners were injured on Saturday during a memorial service for Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, with some in critical condition transported to a nearby hospital, according to a Kenyan Red Cross official.
Odinga, a significant figure in Kenyan politics for decades once a political prisoner and a five-time presidential candidate passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80 in India, where he had been undergoing medical treatment.
He held immense influence and a dedicated following in Kenya. However, a public viewing of his body on Thursday turned tragic when security forces opened fire to control massive crowds that broke through a stadium gate hosting the ceremony. Three individuals lost their lives in the incident, as confirmed by police officials.
On Saturday, his body was flown from Nairobi to Kisumu for a final public viewing. In Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, large gatherings of mourners could be seen weeping, waving Kenyan flags, and at times becoming unruly, leading to scuffles amid the crowd.
Plans for a road procession from Kisumu to his Bondo residence were altered after the chaotic events. Instead, local reports from the Standard newspaper indicated that his body would be flown directly to Bondo.
