A quartet of persons lost their lives in Kenya's capital when armed personnel opened fire and employed chemical irritants to scatter enormous assemblies at a venue where political figure Raila Odinga's body was displayed for homage.
The statesman, who remained a significant presence in the country's governance for decades, succumbed on Wednesday at 80 years old while in hospital care in the Asian nation.
He fought tirelessly for political pluralism, and we are enjoying those liberties today because of his efforts.
Countless followers congregated on thoroughfares from early morning, with mayhem occurring when massive group breached a entrance at the city's central arena, causing military personnel to fire in the air.
During the morning, countless of grievers momentarily entered the city's air terminal, halting a official event where the nation's leader and government representatives were accepting Odinga's corpse with formal recognition.
This event prompted a temporary halt of aviation services.
Groups also overwhelmed surrounding thoroughfares and tried to enter the legislative building, where the administration had first arranged the public viewing.
Though mainly known as an political challenger, Odinga served as senior minister in 2008 and also established a agreement with the leader last year in a political journey marked by shifting alliances.
He commanded intense commitment among supporters, notably in his cultural background based in western Kenya, many of whom maintain he was prevented from obtaining the presidency by electoral fraud.
Countless of Odinga's mourners, who were not yet born in 1991 when Kenya established itself as a multi-party democracy, paid tribute to Odinga's work as an activist.
Lena is an environmental scientist and writer passionate about promoting sustainable practices through accessible, evidence-based content.