Two people died and dozens were injured in a stampede at Kenya’s state funeral for opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday.
Crowds surged to see Odinga’s coffin at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium, overwhelming security and leaving some people trampled and struggling to breathe.
Doctors Without Borders reported attending 163 patients and referring 34 for further care, with most injuries involving blunt trauma and fractures.
Odinga, 80, died Wednesday in southern India from a suspected heart attack, triggering nationwide grief for the man affectionately called “Baba.”
Friday’s ceremony began peacefully, with President William Ruto praising Odinga as a movement for justice, change, and a better Kenya for all.
Moments later, a surge of mourners rushing the coffin turned deadly, with AFP journalists witnessing people crushed underfoot amid chaos.
Earlier, at a separate viewing on Thursday, security forces fired on crowds at a VIP gate, killing at least three people.
It remains unclear whether live rounds were used directly on mourners, as VOCAL Africa awaits autopsies scheduled for Tuesday.
Families identified some victims, including Evans Kiche, while others remain unnamed, condemning what they called excessive and unwarranted use of force.
Odinga played a pivotal role in Kenya’s return to multiparty democracy and oversaw the highly regarded 2010 constitution during his political career.
“He was not disorderly in any way but he was shot,” said one victim’s relative, highlighting tensions between mourners and authorities.
Odinga’s body will travel to western Kenya for more viewing before a private burial on Sunday, amid fears of further unrest.
His death leaves a leadership vacuum in Kenya’s opposition, raising concerns over potential volatility as the 2027 elections approach rapidly.
