Thousands of people gathered at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the state funeral of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Attendees carried national flags, portraits of Odinga, and wore T-shirts featuring his image as a gesture of respect. Security measures were heightened in and around the stadium to prevent any potential disturbances, especially following unrest that occurred during a body-viewing ceremony earlier in the week, which resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals due to police intervention.
Odinga, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80 in India, was a prominent figure in Kenyan politics, having served as the effective leader of the opposition for many years. Regional leaders, including the presidents of Somalia and Ethiopia, were present at the funeral service. On Friday morning, his body was displayed at Parliament for viewing by Members of Parliament and select dignitaries.
Mourners displayed traditional symbols of grief, such as branches and palm fronds, particularly among the Luo ethnic group, to which Odinga belonged. Plans are set for his body to be transported to Kisumu on Saturday, a city considered his political stronghold. Members of the public will have an opportunity to view the body before his burial on Sunday at his farm in Bondo, located approximately 60 kilometers (40 miles) west of Kisumu. According to his family, Odinga had expressed a desire for a fast burial, ideally within 72 hours of his death.
A seven-day mourning period has been declared in his honor. Throughout his political career, Odinga competed in five presidential campaigns, claiming that he was often denied victory through electoral fraud. His passing marks the end of an influential era in Kenyan politics.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyp98k9rnpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss