Heavy security blanketed Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Friday morning as thousands of Kenyans gathered for the State Funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Police said about 10,000 officers had been deployed in and around the venue to ensure safety and maintain order during the ceremony, which is being attended by local and international dignitaries.
Nairobi’s head of traffic operations, Joseph Chirchir, announced road closures around the stadium to control movement and advised motorists to use alternative routes through Bunyala Road to access the city centre.
The security team includes personnel from the General Service Unit, the military, and other specialized formations, ensuring only those who arrived before 8 a.m. gained entry.
Latecomers were turned away and informed they would have to wait until 3 p.m. for a separate viewing session.
Earlier in the morning, Raila’s body had been taken to Parliament for a brief session where President William Ruto led MPs and invited leaders viewed it before being moved to Nyayo Stadium. The plan to have the body lie in state at Parliament was changed after large crowds caused disruptions on Thursday.
Many mourners had hoped the body would remain at Parliament as a symbolic gesture to honour Raila’s decades-long fight for constitutional reform and democracy. The heightened security comes a day after chaos at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, left three people dead and several others injured when police opened fire and used tear gas to control surging crowds.
Witnesses said the violence broke out when mourners tried to access a restricted section reserved for dignitaries. Police officers at the scene reported that the confrontation turned violent as crowds hurled objects at security officers, forcing them to respond with gunfire and tear gas. Some officers suggested the death toll could be higher than initially reported.
Learning from Thursday’s incident, authorities expanded the security operation for Friday’s event to prevent a repeat of the tragedy. Odinga, who passed away in India on Wednesday, was widely regarded as a central figure in Kenya’s fight for democracy and political reforms.
His body arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday morning, where operations were briefly halted due to the overwhelming turnout of mourners. Security teams temporarily closed parts of the airport after sections of the crowd accessed restricted areas. Thousands later joined the convoy escorting the body to the stadium, approximately 30 kilometres away.
At Kasarani on Thursday, the motorcade had arrived two hours late to a packed arena. Shortly after, mourners breached a gate, prompting police to fire tear gas before calm was restored. Dignitaries, including President William Ruto, viewed the body before it was opened to the public for several hours.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who chairs the funeral committee, addressed journalists that evening but avoided commenting on the chaos or the confirmed deaths. The state funeral is being conducted with full military honours, with the government indicating that members of the public will be allowed to pay their final respects “for as long as necessary.”
Raila’s body will be flown to Kisumu on Saturday before being taken to his Bondo home in Siaya County for burial on Sunday. The family said it was his wish to be buried within 72 hours of his death.
The 80-year-old former prime minister collapsed during a morning walk in India and was pronounced dead at Devamatha Hospital in Kochi. The government has since declared a seven-day period of national mourning in his honour.
Raila Odinga, Kenya’s first prime minister under the 2010 Constitution, is remembered as a steadfast reformist who dedicated his life to advancing democracy, justice, and good governanc