Four people have been killed in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, after security forces fired shots and teargas to disperse huge crowds at a stadium where the body of opposition leader Raila Odinga was lying in state. Thousands had gathered to pay respects to the veteran politician, who died on Wednesday aged 80 in India.
Chaos erupted when a large crowd breached a gate at Nairobi’s main stadium, prompting soldiers to fire in the air, a Reuters witness said. A police source confirmed two people were shot dead at the stadium, while KTN News and Citizen TV later reported the death toll had risen to four, with scores injured. Police used teargas to clear the area, leaving the stadium deserted.
Earlier in the day, thousands of mourners briefly stormed Nairobi’s international airport, interrupting a ceremony for President William Ruto and other officials receiving Odinga’s body with military honours. The incident caused a two-hour suspension of airport operations. Crowds also flooded nearby roads and attempted to breach parliament, where the public viewing had originally been scheduled.
Odinga, a major figure in Kenyan politics for decades, was once a political prisoner and ran unsuccessfully for president five times. He became prime minister in 2008 and struck a political pact with Ruto last year. His supporters, many from the Luo community, believe he was denied the presidency by electoral fraud.
