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At least two people lost their lives and more than 160 others were injured on Friday following a stampede during the public viewing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
According to officials, the tragedy occurred near Gate 5, where large crowds of mourners had gathered to view Odinga’s body. The surge caused panic and chaos, leading to a crush that left 163 people injured. Of those, 34 were rushed to hospitals for further treatment.
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Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) East Africa confirmed the figures, saying emergency response teams treated the injured on-site and referred the most serious cases to medical facilities.
“On October 17, at the Nyayo Stadium field hospital, our teams and other responders attended to 163 patients and referred 34 for further care. Sadly, two lives were lost in the stampede,” MSF said in a statement, noting that most injuries involved blunt trauma and fractures.
Nairobi Police Commander George Seda also confirmed the deaths, saying emergency medical teams were on the ground to assist victims.
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The incident occurred after the official state funeral ceremony had concluded and most dignitaries — including President William Ruto and visiting international leaders — had already departed.
The deaths bring to five the total number of people who have died during events related to Odinga’s funeral. A day earlier, three people were shot dead during confrontations between mourners and police at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, where Odinga’s body had initially been displayed.
Medical Services PS Ouma Oluga said several others were treated and discharged after the clashes, which erupted when a crowd attempted to force its way into a VIP area.
Odinga, a towering figure in Kenya’s political history, died in India on Wednesday. His body was flown home Thursday morning, drawing massive crowds at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport — so large that flights were temporarily suspended to manage the situation.
