Dozens of mourners werea injured in a stampede at the state funeral of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday, as thousands of people surged to view his body at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
The incident occurred after dignitaries had left the venue and mourners were invited to a public viewing of the body.
Emergency responders and ambulances rushed to treat the injured, with some suffering broken bones and breathing difficulties.
The funeral was attended by thousands of Kenyans, who paid tribute to Odinga’s legacy as a champion of democracy and human rights.
President William Ruto praised Odinga’s selfless leadership, and the stadium was bedecked with large banners bearing his portrait.
Heavy security measures were deployed, following the deaths of at least three people on Thursday when security forces opened fire to disperse a crowd gathered at a stadium hosting a public viewing of Odinga’s body.
Odinga, a key figure in Kenyan politics, died on Wednesday at the age of 80 in India, where he had been receiving medical treatment.
His body will be taken for burial on Sunday in his ancestral home in western Kenya, where he commanded deep devotion among his Luo community.
