Gunfire broke out in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday after mourners forced their way into a stadium where a public viewing of the late opposition leader Raila Odinga’s body was taking place.
Live footage on the Kenyan presidency’s YouTube channel showed chaotic scenes as crowds pushed through the main gates, overwhelming security personnel.
Odinga, one of Kenya’s most influential political figures, died on Wednesday at age 80 while receiving treatment at a hospital in India. His death came after weeks of public speculation about his health, which his family and aides had consistently denied.
Fondly known as “Baba” (Father), “Agwambo” (Act of God), and “Tinga” (Tractor), Odinga was a dominant figure in Kenyan politics for over four decades. He ran for president five times but never won, often alleging electoral malpractice and championing reforms.
In 2017, he achieved a major victory when the Supreme Court annulled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election, a move he celebrated as a win for democracy—though he later boycotted the rerun over unresolved irregularities.
Despite his fierce opposition stance, Odinga frequently reconciled with his rivals. After losing the 2022 election, he reached a unity deal with President William Ruto, bringing some of his allies into government—a move he described as necessary for national stability following violent protests.
Earlier this year, the Ruto administration supported Odinga’s bid for Chairperson of the African Union Commission, but he lost to Djibouti’s Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
A symbol of Kenya’s pro-democracy struggle, Odinga was imprisoned twice under former President Daniel arap Moi, spending nearly nine years in detention. His incarceration, following allegations of involvement in a 1982 coup attempt, cemented his image as a resilient political reformer and Kenya’s longest-serving political prisoner.
