‘Raila was teargassed enough in life, let's not teargas him in death’: Oburu pleads with mourners to be peaceful

Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga has appealed to mourners in Kisumu and Siaya to remain calm and maintain peace during the homecoming of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body on Saturday.

Speaking at a joint press briefing in Karen alongside Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, with whom he co-chairs the National Committee for the State Funeral of Raila Odinga, Oburu urged mourners to show restraint and honour his brother’s memory with dignity.

He emphasised that mourners should respect the solemnity of the occasion and avoid any conduct that might provoke confrontation with security agencies.

“I want to appeal to my people to be peaceful; I know the pain you feel as all of us do, but this is not a time to do anything that could cause harm or infamy to our people,” Oburu pleaded.

“Let us not overdo the mourning but instead mourn in peace, escort our brother in peace, and let his soul also rest in peace.”

The Siaya Senator expressed disappointment over incidents of teargas use during Thursday’s events in Kasarani Stadium, saying Odinga should not be subjected to similar scenes in death, since during his years as the leader of the opposition and fighting for democracy, he has been teargassed countless times.

“I want to express my disappointment because yesterday there was some teargas which was thrown around. I really don’t like teargas; Raila should not be teargassed in death. He has been teargassed enough when he was alive. Please, let us not cause a situation where he is teargassed again when we are escorting him,” Oburu appealed.

The lawmaker called on mourners to remain peaceful as the body arrives in Kisumu on Saturday, saying those who come to pay their last respects should be allowed to do so without intimidation or unrest.

“Let us behave in a way that does not cause any reason for teargas and unnecessary force against our people, who are innocent and have come to mourn. They should be allowed to mourn peacefully,” he said.

DP Kindiki, on his part, outlined the Saturday programme, noting that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will airlift Odinga’s remains to Kisumu, contrary to the initial report suggesting that the body would be ferried by road.

He noted that the body will lie in state for public viewing for most of the day before being taken to Bondo for an overnight stay ahead of the burial on Sunday.

“The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga will be airlifted to Mamboleo Grounds in Kisumu by the Kenya Defence Forces, arriving at around 8 a.m. Members of the public are requested to be settled by 7a.m. to signify the arrival of the remains of our leader,” said Kindiki.

“There will be a public viewing of the mortal remains of the late Prime Minister for most of the day until we are satisfied that everyone has had a chance to respect the remains of our leader."

On Thursday, at least three people died and several others were injured in chaos that erupted at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, where thousands of Kenyans had gathered to view the body of the late former Prime Minister.

A stampede occurred after crowds surged toward the Presidential Pavilion entrance, forcing security personnel to fire in the air to control the swelling number of mourners eager to pay their last respects.

Security officers reportedly opened fire, leaving at least three people dead from gunshot wounds.

The late Raila Odinga, who died in Kochi, India, will be laid to rest at his Bondo home on Sunday in line with his wishes to be buried within 72 hours of his death.

A four-day State funeral programme released earlier by DP Kindiki included a State Funeral Service at Nyayo Stadium on Friday, followed by the Kisumu public viewing and final interment in Siaya County.