A stampede at a soccer stadium on Friday (October 17, 2025) during the State funeral service for Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga killed two people and injured more than 100 others.
Kenyans had turned out in large numbers to mourn Odinga after the democratic reformer’s death on Wednesday at age 80 in Kerala, reflecting the outsized influence the respected statesman had on political life in the East African country.
A stampede ensued at the stadium in the capital, Nairobi, as the public viewed his body after the service. Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, said two people died and 163 patients were treated at the scene with 34 of them referred to hospitals.
The Kenyan Red Cross said the chaos “left many in need of urgent care.” A source at the country’s main referral hospital said they had received dozens of patients.
Odinga’s brother, Oburu, urged Kenyans on Friday night to be calm and mourn peacefully.
“Raila should not be teargassed in death. He has been teargassed enough when he was alive, please let us not cause a situation where he is teargassed again,” he said.
Heavy security after 3 died on Thursday
Thousands filled the stadium where Odinga’s casket was covered in the national flag for an Anglican Church service. They chanted and held up portraits of Odinga, while some carried twigs, a symbol of peace and unity in Kenyan tradition.
There was heavy security at the stadium after three people died during Thursday’s public viewing as police tried to control a huge crowd at another stadium.
At least 10 people were injured at Thursday’s event after police fired live bullets and tear gas at a surging crowd trying to reach a pavilion where the casket was placed.
The coffin carrying the remains of former Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrives for his state funeral at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
AP
An honoured statesman
Odinga ran for Kenya’s presidency five times over three decades, and although he never succeeded in becoming President, he is revered for a life of activism that helped steer Kenya toward becoming a vibrant multiparty democracy.
Odinga’s body lay in state in Parliament on Friday morning ahead of the funeral, an honour only reserved for the President and former Presidents.
President William Ruto said Odinga deserved the honour for having been a legislator for 15 years, adding that he played “a pivotal role in shaping some of the most consequential laws in our Republic’s history.”
Mr. Ruto campaigned for Odinga in 2007 — a disputed election that was marred by violence. The two men were rivals in subsequent elections, including the most recent one in 2022.
The two leaders signed an agreement this year after months of anti-government protests, and the pact saw opposition party members appointed to Cabinet positions.
On Friday, Mr. Ruto led the mourners in singing Odinga’s favourite song, Harry Belafonte’s “Jamaica Farewell,” and said Odinga helped him steady the nation earlier in the year.
“Whenever the nation needed him to rise above [the] self, he always did so unreservedly,” he said.
David Kodia, the Anglican bishop who led the service, urged the leaders present to be “selfless” like Odinga and to shun corruption. Odinga was a practicing member of the church.
Political analyst Herman Manyora told The Associated Press that the love displayed by so many mourners was a reflection of his work for democracy.
“You can’t point at a man more willing to sacrifice everything just for the sake of his people,” said Mr. Manyora, who is based at the University of Nairobi.
Odinga’s family pay tribute
Among the mourners were Odinga’s wife Ida, daughters Winnie and Rosemary, and son Raila Odinga Junior.
Ms. Ida urged Kenyans to mourn peacefully and said her husband hated dishonesty and greed. Winnie, who was with him in India, led the mourners to chanting in the local Luo language. She said her father died “strong, with dignity and pride” after he pushed his morning walk from his usual two to five rounds around the hospital where he was being treated.
His son Junior, donning his father’s beaded hat and a fly whisk, said he would take care of the family as the sole surviving son.
Kenyans will on Saturday have one more opportunity to view Odinga’s body in the western city of Kisumu, near his rural home in Bondo where he will be buried on Sunday. His family said he had requested to be buried quickly, ideally within 72 hours, which is unusual for popular leaders in this East African country.
Published – October 18, 2025 07:28 am IST
