Calamity Occurs as 4 Die During Memorial for Kenya's Political Figure Raila Odinga
A quartet of persons perished in the capital city when armed personnel shot and deployed teargas to scatter huge gatherings at a sports arena where opposition leader Raila Odinga's body was lying in state.
Political Figure Honored
Odinga, who remained a prominent player in the nation's political landscape for decades, died on Wednesday at age 80 while in hospital care in India.
He campaigned vigorously for political pluralism, and we benefit from those freedoms today because of his efforts.
Turmoil Unfolds at Stadium
Thousands followers assembled on the streets from dawn, with disorder occurring when enormous throng breached a gate at Nairobi's main stadium, causing military personnel to fire in the air.
- A pair of persons lost their lives to gunfire at the venue
- Death toll subsequently increased to four
- Scores of people got wounded
- Authorities used teargas to clear countless grievers
Airport Event and Parliament Standoff
Earlier in the day, numerous of mourners briefly stormed Nairobi's international airport, disrupting a formal proceeding where the nation's leader and other officials were receiving Odinga's body with armed forces tribute.
This situation led to a temporary halt of airport operations.
Crowds also flooded nearby roads and attempted to breach parliament, where the authorities had initially planned the public viewing.
Political Impact and Community Support
Though mainly known as an political challenger, Odinga assumed the role of head of government in 2008 and also struck a political pact with the president last year in a career defined by shifting alliances.
He generated strong loyalty among followers, particularly in his cultural background based in the nation's western region, many of whom believe he was denied the presidency by electoral fraud.
Many of Odinga's followers, who were unborn in 1991 when Kenya transitioned to a pluralistic political system, paid tribute to Odinga's contributions as an activist.
