Gunshots, Teargas At Kasarani Stadium During Raila Odinga Body Viewing
Police were forced to fire tear gas and gunshots in the air in an attempt to restore order
Marvin Chege 
Tension has broken out at Kenya’s Kasarani Stadium after massive crowds of mourners pushed forward in a rush to view the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Police were forced to fire tear gas and gunshots in the air in an attempt to restore order as the situation spiraled out of control, triggering chaos, panic, and a stampede-like scene inside the stadium grounds.
Footage aired on a live broadcast showed thousands of mourners gathering on the pitch of the 48,000-seater stadium before gunshot sounds rent the air, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Teargas was lobbed in an attempt to rapidly disperse the crowd, which was scattering in all corners, frantically making their way out of the sporting facility and leaving it empty in a huff!
Teargas lobbed to disperse mourners at Kasarani Stadium on October 16, 2025. /CITIZEN TV
Reports indicate that the unrest erupted when sections of the crowd inside the stadium began hurling stones toward the pitch, prompting a forceful reaction from police officers.
Additional footage captured what appeared to be officers using batons to disperse the crowd and clear people from the stadium grounds.
Unverified reports suggest that several individuals sustained injuries during the confrontation, with at least one person allegedly shot amid the chaos.
Crowds thronged Kasarani Stadium after the venue for the public viewing of Raila Odinga’s body was shifted there from Parliament, with organizers citing limited space and logistical challenges.
The viewing had been scheduled to begin at noon, but delays emerged when the body remained at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for more than two hours with minimal movement.
When Raila’s body arrived at JKIA from Mumbai, India, members of the public broke through the VIP section, preventing President William Ruto from conducting the official reception.
The procession, which was supposed to reach Parliament by noon, was delayed after thousands of Kenyans flooded the airport to witness the arrival.
After arriving from India, Raila’s body was transported to Kasarani in a slow, hours-long procession, as military vehicles were forced to navigate through massive crowds of Kenyans walking and following on boda bodas along the route from JKIA to Thika Road.
On Friday, October 17, the government will accord the late statesman a state funeral at Nyayo Stadium — a day that has already been declared a public holiday.
