In brief
A BBC Africa Eye probe concluded that the three men shot dead at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium were not involved in the clash that triggered police gunfire during the national farewell for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The mourners were located 60 to 160 metres from the confrontation and were not part of the stone‑throwing crowd. Expert analysis points to a small elite police unit, normally deployed to protect senior officials, as having fired the fatal rounds. Kenya’s policing watchdog is still reviewing the incident, while the nation mourns the loss of the veteran leader and his family. The tragedy underscores the need for improved crowd‑management and transparent security protocols at large public events.
A BBC Africa Eye investigation has found that police firing at the national farewell for ex‑Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Nairobi did not involve the three mourners who were killed; they were not part of the confrontation that sparked the gunfire.
The event, held on 16 October, drew thousands to the 48‑000 seat Kasarani Stadium to pay respects to the 80‑year‑old veteran political leader. Demands for a secure venue were short‑shotted – the stadium was opened with little time to organise adequate safety measures.
The BBC analysed over 1,500 images and video clips to place the victims’ positions 60 to 160 metres from the main standoff, and found no evidence of stone‑throwing or other aggressive acts by the deceased individuals.
A senior police unit, typically assigned to presidential protection, was identified as the likely source of the fatal shots. The officials who operated in the VIP pavilion wore tactical clothing and carried assault rifles.
Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the police action had been "restrained" after a brief tense situation involving stone-throwing. He further claimed the elite unit was in force only after the event was shifted to the stadium at the last minute.
The death of raila's family members, including wife Yvonne Akinyi, has highlighted deep social wounds. Akinyi has pleaded for clarity, stating “there is a hole inside our family that is painful every day.”
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) remains in the process of investigating the shooting. No official has been held accountable so far, underscoring the ongoing quest for justice in Kenya’s public security sector.
In the broader context, the incident underscores the urgent need for robust crowd‑control protocols and transparent use‑of‑force guidelines at large public gatherings, a call resonating across the continent as Kenya seeks to strengthen democratic and civic spaces for the future.
