Tense scenes unfolded at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu on Saturday, as thousands of mourners turned up to view the body of the late opposition leader Raila Amollo Odinga, overwhelming both security and medical personnel.
From as early as dawn, long queues of emotional mourners snaked around the 30,000-capacity stadium, with many carrying twigs, flags, and portraits of the former Prime Minister.
Despite elaborate security measures, the surging crowd soon breached barriers, forcing police and military officers to intervene as the situation grew tense.
What began as a calm and solemn procession quickly descended into chaos as people jostled to get a glimpse of Raila’s flag-draped casket. The heavy heat, exhaustion, and emotional weight of the moment led to multiple cases of people fainting, forcing emergency teams to respond swiftly.
St. John Ambulance and Red Cross teams worked tirelessly to help the weak and unconscious as makeshift medical stations struggled to keep up with the rising number of cases. Volunteers and medics were seen rushing between the stands, providing first aid to those collapsing amid the packed stands.
Security officers on horseback, with sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance from a police helicopter, battled to control the surging crowds. Initially, mourners had been confined to six of the 13 stands, but the numbers soon spilled over, filling every corner of the stadium.
Despite the turmoil, thousands endured the congestion and intense heat to pay their final respects. Many were overcome with emotion, chanting Raila’s name and waving branches as they edged toward the viewing tent.
Authorities repeatedly appealed for calm, assuring the public that the viewing exercise would continue until 3 p.m. before the body would be transported to Siaya County for ceremonies ahead of the final burial in Bondo.
The overwhelming turnout captured the depth of admiration and grief felt across Kenya for the veteran politician whose decades of struggle for democracy shaped the country’s political history.