”Baba (Father)!”. ”We are orphaned!”
Even before the ceremony for the opposition leader Raila Odinga began, tumultuous scenes unfolded among the tens of thousands of mourners who had gathered. According to AFP, several of the crash barriers that had been set up were forced by the crowd. The news agency's reporters saw people climbing up the arena's walls to get a glimpse of the coffin.
Water and oxygen
Rescue personnel are reported to have taken care of hundreds of people who fainted from exhaustion and are suffering from dehydration, according to local media. Water stations have been set up and many mourners are being evacuated from the stadium. Medical teams with stretchers and oxygen tubes are seen in pictures helping people in the crowd.
Inside the barriers, security personnel have created passable roads in the crowd, along which volunteer groups and medical personnel are helping. Outside the arena, ambulances are driving back and forth to local hospitals in the area
Rescue personnel tell AFP that more than 100 injured have been taken out of the arena. There is no information on how seriously injured they are.
Odinga's remains have lain in state in the capital Nairobi and been given a two-day state funeral. Now they have been taken by helicopter to the politician's home province of Kisumu in western Kenya, where he is very popular.
In Nairobi, chaos erupted when mourners gathered to say goodbye to Odinga. At least five people are reported to have been killed and dozens injured.
Fought for democracy
Statesman Raila Odinga was 80 years old. He is described as a democracy advocate and is considered one of the most important politicians in the East African country. Odinga became politically active in the 1970s, was elected to Kenya's parliament in 1992 and was prime minister between 2008 and 2013. He tried five times to become the country's president, but without success.
After Saturday's ceremony in Kisumu, Odinga's coffin will be taken to the Siaya district for a private family funeral.
