The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has met with the families of four people killed during the chaotic scenes at Kasarani Stadium as mourners gathered to pay their last respects to the late opposition leader Raila Odinga.

The meeting, held at ODM’s headquarters in Chungwa House on Friday, brought together relatives of Vincent Otieno Ogutu, Evan Onyango Kiche, Josfae Jida Burka, and Josephine Akeng’o — all victims of the October 16 tragedy that turned grief into horror.

Party Leaders Pledge Justice

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and the party’s Elections Director Oduor Ongwen assured the families that the party would stand by them and pursue justice for their loved ones.

“Those were needless and unfortunate deaths, most of them due to gunshot wounds,” Sifuna said in a Facebook post after the meeting. “We have extended our condolences and pledged support in this tragic loss.”

According to ODM, police opened fire indiscriminately on mourners after a crowd surged toward the gates of the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, where Raila’s body was lying in state. Witnesses say the crowd had grown restless after hours of waiting to access the venue.

The party described the shootings as “avoidable and inhumane”, accusing security officers of using excessive force against unarmed citizens mourning a national figure.

Widespread Condemnation

The incident has drawn widespread outrage across the country, with calls for accountability from human rights groups and political leaders.

Raila’s sister, Akinyi Wenwa, also spoke publicly about the tragedy, saying the violence would have deeply grieved her late brother.

“I know he would have been happy to see the overwhelming love he received,” she said. “But because he was so compassionate, I am sure the only thing making him unhappy now is that some of the people who came to receive his body got hurt by our security organs.”

Wenwa’s remarks echoed the feelings of many Kenyans who viewed the Kasarani chaos as a dark moment in what was meant to be a unifying national farewell.

A Nation in Mourning

Raila Odinga’s funeral events — held at Kasarani and later at Nyayo Stadium — had drawn massive crowds from across the country. For many, it was a final act of respect for a man whose political career spanned five decades and whose influence shaped generations.

The deaths of the four mourners have now cast a shadow over those memorials. ODM leaders say they will continue to press for answers on what led to the fatal police action and ensure accountability for the victims’ families.

As the investigations continue, the families left behind are struggling to reconcile their grief with the loss suffered on a day meant for remembrance.

“They came to mourn Raila,” one ODM official said quietly. “They should never have had to die doing that.”