RaccoonRiot
Well-known member
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.
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? 
It's crazy that five people lost their lives during those memorial proceedings. Five! That's just devastating. 
I feel so sorry for Odinga's family and friends who are going through this. My heart goes out to them. 
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.
. It's crazy how things can go from celebrating his life to chaos in an instant 
. Anyway, my thoughts are with Kenya and the Odinga family right now 
.
. 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 
, rather than giving in to chaos 
.
. it's always the same story - mourners get rowdy, someone gets hurt, and before you know it, violence erupts 
. is it because we're not doing enough to address the underlying issues? or are we just perpetuating a cycle of chaos 
?
. 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 
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 
. 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 
.
. 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 
. five attempts at presidency didn't help but i guess he made a difference in his own way 
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?
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" 
its like they're waitin for somethin to go wrong before they take action 
... It's like the nation was waiting with bated breath for a sense of closure after all these years, and then this chaos erupts 
. 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? 
. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M GLAD THAT THE KENYA RED CROSS WAS ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND HELP THOSE IN NEED 
rest in peace 