Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has announced that he has reached out to the families of victims who died during the viewing of Raila Odinga’s remains at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 22, Sifuna said his office has established contact with some of the affected families and pledged to offer them support following the loss of their loved ones.
The ODM Secretary General described the deaths of the mourners as needless and unfortunate, noting that most of them succumbed to gunshot wounds.
Senator Sifuna also said his office is working to ensure it reaches all the affected families by the end of the day
“My office is in contact with some of the families who lost their loved ones during Baba’s send-off at Kasarani and Nyayo. Those were needless and unfortunate deaths, most of them due to gunshot wounds. We have extended our condolences and pledged support in this tragic loss. We hope to have reached all of them by the end of today,” said Sifuna.
At least 5 people died and several others were injured during the viewing of Raila’s body in Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums.
In Kasarani, thousands of mourners had thronged to the stadium to pay their last respects to the former prime minister when police opened fire and lobbed teargas canisters, leading to the death of three mourners.
Two more people lost their lives on Friday, October 17, during Raila’s state funeral at Nyayo Stadium.
On Tuesday, October 21, Vocal Africa CEO Hussein Khalid said a postmortem examination on 42-year-old Jidah Burka, who died at Kasarani stadium, revealed that he succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the head.
According to Khalid, the autopsy confirmed that the bullet entered through the front of Burka’s head and exited at the back.
“The autopsy on the body of Jidah Burka, who was shot and killed at Kasarani stadium, has been done. The cause of death is a single headshot. The bullet went in on the front of the head and exited at the back,” Khalid stated.
