Tension and chaos erupted in Kenya’s capital on Thursday after police fired tear gas at thousands of mourners who had gathered for the public viewing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics who died a day earlier in India at the age of 80.
The crowd, estimated at more than 60,000 people, had filled Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre after escorting Odinga’s body on foot from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, nearly 30 kilometers away. What began as a solemn procession quickly descended into panic when sections of the crowd breached the presidential pavilion, prompting security forces to fire tear gas to regain control.
Witnesses described a stampede at the stadium gates as mourners fled, with several people injured in the ensuing chaos. Political leaders attending the event were briefly locked inside a room for safety.
Earlier in the day, Odinga’s body arrived from India aboard a chartered aircraft and received a water cannon salute on the runway. Plans for a private ceremonial reception were disrupted when crowds broke through security barriers demanding to view the body. Many followed the military vehicle carrying Odinga’s coffin, waving green twigs and chanting, “Baba lives on!” — using the affectionate Swahili term meaning “father.”
“We loved Baba so much; he stood for the people,” said Beatrice Adala, one of the mourners at the airport. “His fight for democracy gave us hope.”
Odinga, often regarded as the face of Kenya’s pro-democracy movement, collapsed during a morning walk in India’s Kerala state on Wednesday. Doctors were unable to revive him, according to family sources.
The veteran opposition leader will be buried on Sunday at his ancestral home in Bondo, western Kenya, in line with his wish for a quick burial within 72 hours. The government has declared Friday a public holiday to allow citizens to pay their last respects at a national memorial service in Nairobi, with another public viewing set for Saturday in Kisumu County.
President William Ruto, Odinga’s longtime political rival turned ally, paid tribute to him as “a patriot of uncommon courage, a pan-Africanist and unifier who sought peace and progress above personal ambition.” The president also announced seven days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast.
Odinga, who contested Kenya’s presidency five times, was widely respected for his role in championing multiparty democracy and constitutional reform. Despite never clinching the presidency, he left an indelible mark on Kenya’s political history — from his tenure as prime minister between 2008 and 2013 to his role in fostering national dialogue after years of political tension.
As Kenya mourns “Baba,” his death has left a nation reflecting on the legacy of a man who, for decades, embodied its struggle for justice, democracy, and unity.
