Tragedy Strikes During Odinga's State Funeral Viewing

Nairobi, Kenya – Josephine Akeng'o, a mother of three, has been identified as one of the two individuals who tragically lost their lives in a stampede at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday, October 17, 2025. The incident occurred as thousands of mourners gathered for the public viewing of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's body, following his state funeral service.

The stampede, which took place near Gate Five as mourners surged forward to view the casket, also left 163 people injured, with 34 requiring hospitalisation. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) East Africa confirmed the fatalities and the number of injured, noting that their teams, alongside other emergency responders, provided medical care at a field hospital set up at the stadium.

Context of National Mourning and Prior Incidents

The incident at Nyayo National Stadium was the second major crowd control challenge during the mourning period for the former Prime Minister. On Thursday, October 16, 2025, chaos erupted at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, during an earlier public viewing of Odinga's body. Reports indicate that four people were killed in clashes between police and mourners at Kasarani, with security forces reportedly firing shots and tear gas to disperse large crowds attempting to breach a VIP area.

Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga stated that approximately 100 people were treated for injuries sustained during the Kasarani chaos. Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah later raised concerns about the strain on Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) due to the influx of casualties from both stadium incidents, urging the government to cover treatment costs for all victims.

Stadium Safety and Regulations Under Scrutiny

Nyayo National Stadium, originally built in 1983 with a capacity of 30,000, is a multi-purpose venue frequently used for football matches, athletics, and large public gatherings. While recent renovations have aimed to modernise facilities and meet international standards, the recurring stampedes raise serious questions about the effectiveness of crowd management and safety protocols at Kenyan stadiums.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations for stadiums hosting major tournaments, such as the upcoming 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), stipulate requirements for electronic access and automated counting systems to prevent overcrowding, CCTV surveillance, emergency lighting, and public address systems. The Kenyan government had announced strict security and traffic management plans for CHAN 2024, including online-only ticket sales and multiple layers of screening, with Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen assuring the public of modern and efficient entry systems to prevent stampedes.

Calls for Accountability and Future Measures

Witnesses at Nyayo Stadium described a sudden surge of mourners towards Gate Five, creating a bottleneck that led to panic and trampling. Odinga's brother, Oburu Odinga, appealed for calm, urging peaceful mourning. The Kenya Red Cross emphasised the challenging nature of responding to such large-scale incidents.

Past incidents, such as a 2010 stampede at Nyayo Stadium during a football match between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards that claimed seven lives, underscore a history of crowd control failures. An inquest into the 2010 tragedy, while confusing in its findings, highlighted issues of overcrowding, insufficient safety protocols, and poorly trained security.

What to Watch

The exact circumstances leading to the surge at Nyayo Stadium and the specific actions taken by security personnel remain under scrutiny. Investigations into both the Nyayo and Kasarani incidents are expected to provide further details and potentially lead to reforms in crowd management strategies for major public events in Kenya. The government's response to calls for covering victims' medical expenses and implementing stricter safety measures will be closely watched.