Caleb Amisi condemns excessive force against mourners at Raila’s body viewing
By Joel Masibo, October 16, 2025Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has condemned the excessive force of police authorities to control the surging crowds during the public body viewing ceremony of the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kasarani Stadium.
Taking to his X account on Thursday, October 16, 2025, Amisi said the authorities had spoiled Raila’s funeral by lobbing teargas at mourners who had gathered at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Thursday.
”Police have officially spoiled Baba’s funeral. This is not proper. Can’t we reason through situations before actions? Shooting live bullets in a mammoth crowd in a stadium is simply stupid,” Amisi said.
The lawmaker further asked for proper ways to control crowds during similar occasions in the future.
”Let’s learn to control and think through plans. The government is either playing around with Baba’s funeral or is not a proper government that can run a nation. Sad! Please, next time you see mourners gathered somewhere, use a PA system to address them, not teargas,” he added.
Body viewing changes
The viewing was initially scheduled to happen at the Parliament Buildings, but due to the surging crowds, the government announced that the activity would take place at Kasarani Stadium due to the surging crowds in the Nairobi Central Business District.
However, the security providers were seemingly overpowered by thousands of mourners who had gathered in their numbers at the sports facility, breaching protocol and making it hard for the smooth operation involving the entire process shortly after Raila Odinga’s body had arrived for viewing.
As the crowds failed to heed the instructions from authorities to observe order, the police were forced to act by forcefully ejecting Raila’s supporters from the stadium by lobbing teargas canisters at them, prompting a visible stampede.
In a public statement released by the ruling party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), on Thursday morning, the state officials urged members of the public to proceed directly to Kasarani Stadium to pay their respects. The decision follows reports of large crowds attempting to enter Parliament Buildings, which posed challenges for security personnel.
The veteran politician passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Kochi, India, following a cardiac arrest. Odinga, aged 80, served as Kenya’s Prime Minister and was widely respected for his role in promoting political dialogue and national unity.