Saturday's public viewing of Raila’s body moved to Kenyatta stadium

Kisumu county government has announced a change of venue for Saturday’s public viewing of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body, moving the event from Moi Stadium to Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo.

Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga said the decision was made to accommodate the large crowds expected to attend the event.

“We have decided to move the venue of the public viewing to Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo. All plans are in place to ensure that our people get the opportunity to bid baba farewell,” he told the media.

The move comes amid concerns over massive turnouts as witnessed during Thursday’s public viewing in Nairobi, where tens of thousands of mourners thronged Kasarani stadium to pay their last respects to the opposition leader.

Initially, the body was to be taken to the Lee Funeral Home for embalming before being transported to Nyayo National Stadium for viewing.

However, authorities revised the plan and moved the ceremony to Kasarani Stadium to manage the unprecedented crowds.

Despite the change, the day was marked by chaos as thousands of mourners, many chanting Raila’s name and waving ODM flags, attempted to push through police barriers in a desperate attempt to access the VIP lounge where the body was being prepared and the coffin changed.

The crowd’s impatience turned violent, forcing police to fire teargas to disperse them. In the ensuing melee, one person was reportedly shot dead and several others injured in the stampede as security officers struggled to restore order.

Raila’s death has plunged the nation into mourning, with tributes pouring in from across the political divide and around the world.

The 80-year-old opposition doyen succumbed to cardiac arrest in India, where he had travelled for treatment after reportedly suffering a mild stroke the previous week.

A national funeral service will be held on Friday at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, where local and international dignitaries are expected to attend before the body is airlifted to the lakeside city.

According to the official itinerary, the body will be flown from Nairobi to Kisumu on Saturday morning.

Public viewing at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium will run from 9 am to 3 pm, after which the cortege will proceed to Raila’s Bondo home in Siaya county for an overnight vigil.

He will be buried on Sunday, 72 hours after his demise, in accordance with his wishes.

Raila’s final journey has drawn emotional scenes across the country, with mourners describing him as a selfless statesman whose political struggles helped shape Kenya’s modern democracy.