Dozens injured, heavy security in Kenya as Odinga mourned before burial

Tributes Turn Violent: Kenya in Mourning After Odinga's Burial

In the western Kenyan city of Kisumu, hundreds gathered to pay their last respects to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, with dozens injured during a chaotic memorial event at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium. The scene was marked by military units, police, and aerial surveillance deployed in an attempt to prevent the kind of violence that marred earlier memorial proceedings.

Despite efforts to maintain order, the mood turned ugly on Saturday as crowds surged into the venue, with some reportedly fainting from fatigue and distress. Kenya Red Cross teams quickly responded, evacuating casualties while treating those who had fallen ill. The injuries were a stark reminder of the dangers faced by mourners in the past, when similar events ended in bloodshed.

Just days earlier, Odinga's body was transported through Kisumu to his ancestral home in Bondo for burial on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands from across the region. As he made his way through Kenya and eventually to his final resting place, a sea of mourners marked their respect with elaborate ceremonies that drew world leaders, including former US President Barack Obama.

Obama eulogized Odinga as "a true champion of democracy" who had endured decades of struggle and sacrifice for freedom and self-governance in Kenya. The late opposition leader's dedication to democratic ideals was evident throughout his life, but ultimately did not translate into a presidency – five attempts spanning three decades failed to secure the top office.

As Odinga prepared to leave this world behind, Kenyans mourned the loss of an icon who had played a pivotal role in shaping their country's evolution. His leadership helped usher in multiparty politics and paved the way for Kenya's 2010 constitution – a landmark that redistributed power away from centralized executive authority.

But on the eve of his burial, violence re-emerged, killing at least five people during earlier memorial proceedings. Authorities scrambled to prevent a repeat, but their efforts were tested as hundreds swarmed Jomo Kenyatta Stadium-Mamboleo, eager to pay their respects to Odinga. As Siaya County Governor James Orengo urged restraint and vigilance, the nation held its breath, hoping for peaceful closure in this time of national grief.

I'm so sad about what happened at Raila Odinga's memorial event in Kisumu. It's just not right that violence broke out again, especially when people were already in a state of mourning. I don't get why it had to be like this... couldn't they have found a way to celebrate his life without hurting each other?

I know Odinga was a leader who fought for democracy and freedom in Kenya, but that's exactly what we should be celebrating - not fighting. It's crazy that five people lost their lives during those memorial proceedings. Five! That's just devastating.

It's also weird that it happened on the eve of his burial... like, couldn't they have waited till after to unleash all this chaos? I feel so sorry for Odinga's family and friends who are going through this. My heart goes out to them.

man, it's like you can just feel the tension in the air when they're talking about Odinga's burial . you got these hundreds of people gathered, all of a sudden surge into the stadium and chaos erupts... it's like, what's going on? and then you gotta think about the bigger picture - he was like this iconic figure for Kenyans, been through so much struggle for democracy and self-governance... but at the same time, you got these different factions, maybe some of them still have beef with him or each other... it's just really complicated.

I just heard about Raila Odinga's burial and I'm still trying to process everything . It's crazy how things can go from celebrating his life to chaos in an instant . I was watching the news and it looked like the crowds got a bit too emotional, you know? The military and police were there trying to keep everyone safe, but it's hard to maintain order when you're dealing with hundreds of people who are grieving .

I feel bad for those who got hurt, though . It's not the kind of closure anyone wants for a national figure like Odinga. I guess it just goes to show that even in the best of times, there can be some negative energy around big events . Anyway, my thoughts are with Kenya and the Odinga family right now .

This is a harsh reminder that even with the best intentions, things can spiral out of control when people are overwhelmed by emotions . It's like when you're trying to celebrate someone's birthday but the cake collapses ... or in this case, the tribute turns violent . We have to acknowledge that our collective grief can sometimes lead us down a dark path , and it's up to us as individuals and communities to take a step back, breathe, and find a way to channel our emotions in a positive direction . Let's honor Odinga's legacy by promoting peace and unity , rather than giving in to chaos .

this is so disheartening... kenya's supposed 'peace' was just a facade all along . it's always the same story - mourners get rowdy, someone gets hurt, and before you know it, violence erupts . we need to ask ourselves why these events keep happening despite our best efforts to maintain order . is it because we're not doing enough to address the underlying issues? or are we just perpetuating a cycle of chaos . can't we find a way to honor the departed with dignity and respect without resorting to violence ?

just thinking about what happened in Kisumu is giving me chills... I mean, I know politics can get heated, but to see it turn violent like that is just heartbreaking . And those poor people who got hurt... it's just awful . I was watching the footage of Odinga's memorial and seeing all those faces, so full of love and respect for him... it was incredible . But then you see the chaos break out, and it's like, what happened to us as a society? We're supposed to be better than this . Anyway, RIP Raila Odinga... your legacy will live on , and I hope the people of Kenya can find some peace in the midst of all this grief .

man, what's going on with kenyans rn? one day they're all calm and respectful at his memorial, next thing you know crowds are surging and people are getting injured it's like the country is still healing from the past conflicts... raila odinga was a legend, no doubt about that, but this kind of violence is really sad. you'd think they'd have learned by now to keep their emotions in check

man this guy raila odinga was like a rockstar in kenya lol he died doing what he loved fighting for democracy & stuff but it's crazy how things can turn violent even at his funeral i mean who needs that kind of energy on a sad day? anyway hope the people of kenya are taking care of each other during this tough time gotta respect raila for his dedication to freedom, he was definitely a champion of democracy

The whole situation with Raila Odinga's burial is just heartbreaking . You'd think that after all those elaborate ceremonies and world leaders attending his memorial service, things would've been calm and orderly at the stadium. But nope, it seems like people were still hurting too much from the trauma of previous events .

I mean, five more lives lost during a time when Kenyans are supposed to be coming together in mourning is just devastating . The authorities did their best to prevent chaos, but I guess you can't control how everyone reacts in such an emotional situation . What's concerning is that this kind of violence often happens right before or after major events like this, when people are already on edge and emotions run high .

It's also worth noting that the circumstances surrounding Odinga's death are still unclear . Was it a natural cause, or was there something more to it? I'm no expert, but it seems like we might need some answers soon . One thing's for sure: Kenya needs to come together and find ways to heal and move forward as a nation, not just mourn the loss of an incredible leader .

The news about Raila Odinga's burial turning violent is heartbreaking . It's like Kenyans can't even be together to mourn their beloved leader without things getting out of hand . I mean, I get that emotions are running high and all, but come on! Can't we find a way to honor the legacy of someone who fought for democracy and peace in our country without resorting to violence? It's like we're sending a mixed message to the world about what we value as a nation. And what really gets me is that it happened during the memorial event where world leaders were present... it's just so sad . How are we supposed to move forward and celebrate Odinga's life when we can't even show respect without turning into chaos?

man oh man what's going on with kenya rn? it's like they're trying to celebrate a life but instead everyone's fighting and i'm just sitting here thinking about all the people who got hurt including the ones who were just trying to pay their respects . raila odinga was like a symbol of hope for many kenyans, especially during those dark times when democracy was still a struggle . five attempts at presidency didn't help but i guess he made a difference in his own way . can we please just have some peace now?

I'm low-key surprised no one's talking about how crowded that memorial event was. I mean, tens of thousands showing up like that is just crazy! It's not exactly violent either, it's more like people getting a little out of hand. I don't know what all the fuss is about, it seems like everyone had a good time except for those who got hurt. And let's be real, a sea of mourners is a great way to honor someone's legacy! But seriously, maybe we should focus on how Kenya's multiparty politics and new constitution are gonna impact the country instead of dwelling on Odinga's passing?

I'm shocked they had to deploy military units... or should I say, "Ode to Military Units" Can you imagine having a military unit at your cousin's wedding? "Sir, we have multiple exits planned in case of an emergency"... "Negative, we just need a backup for the cake cutting"

man this is getting really sad can't believe it had to get violent again in kenya after all those years they spent honoring him with ceremonies and whatnot. feels like kenya's still struggling with its past issues hope the authorities are able to keep things under control today but honestly it's hard not to think about the bloodshed that happened back in 2007

OMG what's up with kenya??1! they cant even have a decent memorial without it turnin into chaos dozens injured?? five people killed??? its like they didnt learn from the past i mean raila odinga was a true champion of democracy but still... how can u expect order when there's so much passion and emotion in the air? i wish kenya had some more resources to handle these situations properly, instead of just wingin it its like they're waitin for somethin to go wrong before they take action

I'm literally shaking thinking about what happened at Raila Odinga's memorial service ... I mean, I get it that people were so upset to see him go, but violent outbursts? That's just not okay ... It's like the nation was waiting with bated breath for a sense of closure after all these years, and then this chaos erupts ... And those poor people who got injured - my heart goes out to them ... I wish authorities could have done more to prevent it, but at least they were prepared and had military units and police on site ... It's just so sad that Raila's legacy ended with such a violent note ...

The scenes at Raila Odinga's burial are just heartbreaking . It's like no matter how well-planned the event was, violence can always sneak up on us . I think it's really sad that people are still struggling with their emotions and not being able to contain them in a peaceful way . The fact that the Kenya Red Cross teams had to intervene and treat casualties is just devastating . It's like we're witnessing history repeating itself, and it's hard not to feel a sense of unease . But at the same time, I'm glad that world leaders were there to pay their respects and acknowledge Odinga's impact on democracy . His legacy will continue to inspire generations, even if his life was cut short . Can we just hope for a peaceful and respectful closure for Kenya in this difficult time?

IT'S DISAPPOINTING TO SEE VIOLENCE ERUPT AT RAILA ODINGA'S MEMORIAL EVENT AGAIN . I MEAN, YOU'D THINK AFTER ALL THE TROUBLES HE FACES OVER THE YEARS, KENYANS WOULD BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE HIS LIFE WITHOUT BLOODSHED . IT JUST SHOWS HOW DEEPLY DIVIDED OUR SOCIETY IS STILL . BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M GLAD THAT THE KENYA RED CROSS WAS ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND HELP THOSE IN NEED . WE SHOULD ALL BE WISHING FOR A PEACEFUL FUNERAL CEREMONY FOR RAILA ODINGA .

just saw the news about Raila Odinga's memorial service turning violent... I'm still reeling from it how do you explain this kind of chaos after a celebration of life? it feels like Kenya is still trying to work through some deep issues and I can only imagine how tough it must be for the family and friends to deal with all this grief anyway, let's keep our thoughts and prayers out for Raila Odinga's soul rest in peace