Africa: Mourners injured at Kenyan opposition leader’s funeral
Seventeen mourners were injured as crowds gathered at Kenya opposition leader Raila Odinga’s funeral on 17th October, reported Reuters.
A source at Kenyatta National Hospital confirmed to Reuters the admission of the injured to the health facility after a stampede. On October 16th, security forces opened fire on the crowd and killed three after the crowd breached the security gate.
Odinga died on October 15th in the southern part of India while under medical treatment.
Funeral services for the late former Prime Minister were organised in a Nairobi stadium. Shortly after, while the mourners were permitted to enter to view Odinga, a stampede broke out.
In conversation with Reuters, a spokesperson from the Kenya Red Cross commented, “Our teams are there helping to provide treatment and evacuate the injured.”
Odinga’s wife, Ida, and kids were present along with the mourners. Winnie, his daughter, was with him in India, and said he passed away “strong, with dignity and pride,” AP reports.
The 80-year-old political figure served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and is revered as a prominent figure in Kenyan polity. Affectionately addressed as “baba” (meaning father), while Odinga did not gain the presidency despite his multiple attempts, he is considered to be a key contributor in returning Kenya to the system of multi-party democracy and for his role in the creation of the 2010 constitution of Kenya.
Thousands of mourners took to the streets to honour and celebrate Odinga. They waved white handkerchiefs and danced at the stadium. Crowds formed at the airport landing the plane carrying Odinga’s body, causing a two-hour suspension of flight operations, reported Reuters.
Kenyans will have one more chance to view Odinga in his rural home in Kismu. Odinga will be laid to rest in his homestead in western Kenya on 19th October.
Reuters, Associated Press, Maghrebi.org
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