Dozens of mourners sustained injuries, some severe, during the state funeral of Kenya's iconic opposition leader Raila Odinga at Nyayo National Stadium on October 17, 2025, as an overwhelming crowd surged toward his coffin in a bid to pay final respects. Eyewitnesses, including AFP journalists, reported chaos on the pitch where Odinga's casket was displayed, with victims suffering broken bones, respiratory distress, and collapses amid the crush.

At least five ambulances rushed to aid the hurt, marking a tragic coda to the 80-year-old's legacy. The incident followed Thursday's repatriation ceremony, where security forces' gunfire killed at least three people, drawing sharp condemnation for excessive force and amplifying grief over Odinga—affectionately known as "Baba" (father)—who succumbed to a suspected heart attack at a clinic in southern India on October 15.

President William Ruto eulogised Odinga as "a man who walked among us... a movement for change, for justice, for a better and greater Kenya," highlighting his role in restoring multiparty democracy in the 1990s and championing the acclaimed 2010 constitution. Despite five presidential bids, Odinga served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 under a power-sharing deal that quelled post-election violence claiming over 1,000 lives.

Supporter Paul Oloo captured the sentiment: "I have freedom of speech because of Raila... I'm here because he is the father." Odinga's death, mere weeks after his August endorsement of Ruto's administration amid economic protests, has triggered national mourning, with vigils drawing tens of thousands. His body, flown back from India, was first viewed at Kasarani Stadium, where the fatal shooting occurred as crowds pressed against a VIP gate, underscoring persistent tensions between the security apparatus and civilian gatherings in a nation scarred by electoral strife.

The Thursday tragedy, verified by rights group VOCAL Africa through city mortuary data, involved victims including Vincent Otieno Ogutu and Evans Kiche, with a third unidentified; autopsies scheduled for October 21 aim to clarify if live rounds were used. Families displayed photos evidencing bullet wounds, prompting outrage. "He was not disorderly in any way, but he was shot," lamented Ogutu's brother-in-law.

VOCAL Africa's Hussein Khalid decried the "excessive use of force against mourners", urging police restraint to avert further fatalities. Kenya's security forces, often criticised by Human Rights Watch for crowd control tactics—linked to 50 deaths in 2024 protests—face mounting scrutiny, especially as Odinga's Azimio la Umoja coalition demands an independent probe. This follows a pattern of lethal responses during public events, eroding trust in institutions Odinga has long challenged.

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Odinga's passing creates a leadership chasm in Kenya's fractious opposition as the 2027 elections loom, potentially volatile amid youth-led unrest over unemployment and graft. No clear successor emerges from his Luo ethnic base or broader alliances, risking fragmentation in a country where ethnic mobilisation sways votes. His itinerary continues: the cortege heads to his western Kenya homeland on Saturday for mass viewings, culminating in a private Sunday burial in Kisumu.

Tributes from global figures, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, underscore Odinga's pan-African stature. As Kenya mourns, the funeral's toll—bridging adoration and disorder—serves as a poignant reminder of his unfinished quest for equity, spurring calls for electoral reforms to honour his vision of a united, just republic.

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