Dozens of people were injured during a public viewing of a memorial to Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kisumu on Saturday, the Kenyan Red Cross said.
At least five people died during other public funeral events following Odinga’s death in a hospital in India on Wednesday.
The 80-year-old’s state funeral was held in Nairobi on Friday, but Saturday marked one of the most significant days of mourning as his body was taken to a stadium in his political stronghold for the last public viewing.
Huge crowd while taking Odinga’s body home
Clashes broke out as crowds gathered to view the coffin at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium. Security personnel, some of whom were on horses, struggled to hold back the mourners.
Many people stayed overnight waiting for the opportunity to view Odinga’s body. Some people fainted due to the heat and long lines during the public darshan.
“It was much better than Nairobi. We were prepared for this,” said Philip Nyaswa, a member of the emergency team in Kisumu.
A street procession to Odinga’s residence in Bondo was canceled to avoid the risk of a stampede. Instead, the body will be taken directly to Bondo, according to local media.
On Thursday, security forces opened fire to disperse a crowd at a Nairobi stadium where Odinga lay in state, killing at least three people. The next day, a stampede led by President Ruto at his state funeral broke out, killing two and injuring dozens.
Odinga was a prominent figure in Kenyan politics and served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013. He also ran for president five times in three decades.
Edited by: Carl Sexton