Three Mourners Killed Far From Stadium Clashes In Kenya

Three mourners killed when Kenyan police opened fire during a farewell event for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who were not involved in the clashes that preceded the shooting, a BBC Africa Eye investigation has found.

The incident occurred on October 16, 2025, at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, where thousands had gathered to pay their respects to Odinga, who died the previous day while receiving medical treatment in India.

Police opened fire after some mourners attempted to force their way into the stadium’s VIP section. The BBC investigation found that the three victims were between 60 and 160 metres from the scuffles.

The broadcaster analysed more than 1,500 images and videos to establish where the victims were when they were shot. It also interviewed some of their relatives.

Kenya’s Interior Minister, Kipchumba Murkomen, told the BBC that the police response had been restrained after some people in the crowd began throwing stones. However, footage analysed by the broadcaster showed objects, including plastic chairs, being thrown, but provided no evidence that stones were among them.

Forensic analysis by the BBC suggested that an elite police unit responsible for protecting the president may have fired the fatal shots.

Odinga was one of Kenya’s most influential political figures and the longest-serving opposition leader in the country. His death at the age of 80 prompted widespread mourning across the country.

SOURCE: BBC