Disaster Hits as 4 Die During Memorial for Kenya's Opposition Leader Raila Odinga
A quartet of persons lost their lives in Kenya's capital when armed personnel shot and deployed teargas to break up huge gatherings at a sports arena where opposition leader Raila Odinga's corpse was displayed for homage.
Political Figure Honored
The statesman, who had been a major force in the country's governance for decades, succumbed on midweek at age 80 while in hospital care in the Asian nation.
He struggled relentlessly for multi-party democracy, and we are enjoying those freedoms today because of his struggle.
Chaos Erupts at Stadium
Thousands supporters assembled on the streets from early morning, with chaos occurring when a large crowd forced open a barrier at Nairobi's main stadium, leading to soldiers to shoot skyward.
- Two people perished from bullets at the venue
- Fatalities eventually reached to four
- Scores of individuals sustained injuries
- Police used teargas to disperse thousands mourners
Airport Incident and Parliament Confrontation
Earlier in the day, countless of supporters momentarily entered the capital's aviation hub, halting a ceremony where the nation's leader and government representatives were welcoming Odinga's corpse with formal recognition.
This situation prompted a two-hour suspension of airport operations.
Groups also occupied nearby roads and sought to penetrate the legislative building, where the government had first arranged the open visitation.
National Heritage and Community Support
Though mainly known as an government critic, Odinga assumed the role of head of government in 2008 and also struck a alliance with the president last year in a career defined by changing partnerships.
He generated passionate devotion among followers, particularly in his ethnic group based in the country's west, many of whom believe he was deprived of the presidency by electoral fraud.
Numerous of Odinga's mourners, who were not yet born in 1991 when Kenya established itself as a multi-party democracy, expressed respect to Odinga's efforts as an advocate.
