Gitonga Mukunji condemns govt over mourners’ deaths at Raila Odinga viewing
By Ascah Mwango, October 25, 2025Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji has faulted the government over the deaths of five mourners during the public viewing of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and the Nyayo National Stadium.
In a statement shared on his X account on Friday, October 24, 2025, Mukunji expressed outrage over the killings, accusing the authorities of turning a blind eye to the loss of innocent lives.
“Their only mistake was their love for Baba and showing up to mourn their hero in Kasarani. This regime has normalised extrajudicial killings of Kenyans without remorse. EVERY LIFE MATTERS!” he said.
Casualities
Human rights activist and Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid confirmed that five people had died during the public viewing events. According to Khalid, three were shot and killed at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, while two others died in a stampede at the Nyayo National Stadium during the State Funeral.
“VOCAL Africa is currently at City Mortuary awaiting the postmortem of the three victims shot and killed last Thursday during the viewing of Baba’s body at Kasarani Stadium. Additionally, reports have confirmed the deaths of two more individuals at Nyayo Stadium following a stampede. We will share further details about the victims as soon as they are confirmed,” Khalid said in a statement on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
One of the victims, 41-year-old Josephine Anjao Okeng’o from Kibra, died in the Nyayo Stadium stampede.
“VOCAL Africa, together with the family of Josephine Anjao Okeng’o, aged 41 from Kibra, mourns her tragic death following a stampede at Nyayo Stadium during the viewing of the late Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body,” Khalid stated.
Another mourner, Jidah Burka, was shot dead at Kasarani. He had gone to pay his last respects to Odinga but never made it back home.
His mother, Boni Bori, said her son was the family’s main provider and left behind young children. She appealed to the government to explain the circumstances that led to his death and demanded justice for all victims.
Witnesses recounted that chaos broke out at Kasarani Stadium on Thursday, October 16, 2025, when the crowd surged toward the arena to view Odinga’s body. Police responded with tear gas and live bullets to control the crowd, sparking panic and a deadly stampede.
The tragedy repeated the next day at Nyayo National Stadium during the State Funeral, where tens of thousands had gathered to pay their final respects.
A stampede near one of the gates left two people dead and more than 160 others injured.