The pain of loss is still raw for two families in Nairobi mourning their loved ones caught in yesterday’s chaos at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. What was meant to be a peaceful farewell to the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga turned tragic after police clashed with the surging crowd, leaving several injured and others dead.
Outside the Nairobi Funeral Home, grief hung heavy in the air as families struggled to come to terms with a tragedy they believe could have been avoided. Amid tears and disbelief, relatives accused security agencies of using excessive force on unarmed citizens who had gathered to pay their last respects.
Among the victims was Evans Kiche, a 40-year-old father of three who worked at a hotel in Kasarani. Like thousands of others, he had gone to view the body of the late Odinga. But in the confusion and gunfire that followed, a bullet struck him down.
“He was my hero, our breadwinner. All I want is justice for my husband,” his widow said tearfully.
For the second family, the anguish was no different. Their kin, Vincent, was reportedly seated at the stadium when he was shot. The family learned of his death through a phone call after his body had been taken to the Nairobi Funeral Home.
“I was about to leave for work when my wife got the call from a relative saying Vincent had been shot at Kasarani,” one family member recounted.
Human rights defenders have condemned the incident, terming it a clear case of excessive and unwarranted use of force. The Chief Executive Officer of Vocal Africa Khalid Husssein confirmed that three bodies from the Kasarani incident have so far been taken to the Nairobi Funeral Home , two already identified, while one remains unknown.
“We urge families missing their loved ones to come forward and identify the remaining body,” said Hussein calling for swift investigations and accountability.
