During the body viewing of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Thursday afternoon, police were compelled to use tear gas canisters at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.
Originally planned to take place in the Parliament Buildings, the government decided to move the viewing to Kasarani Stadium due to the overwhelming number of people in the Nairobi Central Business District.
Winnie Odinga with the remains of Raila Odinga in Mumbai, IndiaShortly after Raila Odinga’s body arrived for viewing, throngs of mourners apparently overwhelmed the security personnel who had assembled in large numbers at the sports facility, violating protocol and making it difficult for the entire process to run smoothly.
The police were compelled to take action and forcibly remove Raila’s supporters from the stadium by hurling tear gas canisters at them after the crowds disregarded their orders to maintain order, which resulted in a visible stampede.
State officials encouraged the public to go straight to Kasarani Stadium to pay their respects in a public statement issued Thursday morning by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA). The decision comes after security staff encountered difficulties due to reports of sizable crowds trying to enter Parliament Buildings.
By People Daily