Residents of Sori town in Migori County are urging the police not to use excessive force during the mourning period for the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
While signing the condolence book in memory of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, the residents expressed their fear that the police would injure even more mourners when Raila’s body arrives in Kisumu.
This concern follows an incident that occurred on Thursday, October 16, when the body of the late former premier was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where a large crowd overwhelmed the security agencies attempting to control them.
On the same day, things escalated upon the mourners’ arrival at Kasarani Stadium, where police had to deploy teargas and shoot in the air to disperse the crowd so that they could prepare the late Raila Odinga for public viewing, an incident that tragically resulted in reported fatalities and injuries.
Focus on Kisumu Preparations
The massive turnout and resulting chaos in Nairobi have led to heightened preparations in Kisumu, the heart of the Nyanza political base.
The planned public viewing for Saturday, October 18, has been moved from the smaller Moi Stadium to the larger Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo to accommodate the anticipated mammoth crowd.
Regional authorities, including the County Commissioner and Kisumu City Manager, have issued strong appeals for calm, peace, and decorum.
They have assured residents that a multi-agency security team has been mobilized to oversee crowd control, traffic, and access, with strict screening measures at entry points.
This increased caution directly addresses the Sori residents’ fears.
“As people of Sori town in Nyatike and also Nyanza as a whole, we call on the police to use less force on mourners. What we saw in Nairobi was scary.
We don’t want to see people dying during this time,” said Evans Omondi, a resident of Sori town.
Omondi added that people from the lake region, when bereaved, cannot control how they mourn and hence the police should let them be and mourn the way they deem fit.
Reagan Saoke, a boda boda rider from the town, while speaking to the media, urged the youth to exercise caution and not to provoke the police, what he said could lead to such heavy exchange.
“I urge my fellow youth to conduct themselves in a manner that will not cause chaos,” he said.
Concurrently, while expressing her sorrow due to the death of the former premier, Mary Atieno from Kalangi in Nyatike decried the loneliness Raila has left in their hearts.
In deep grief, she urged mourners to maintain peace so that the spirit of Raila could rest peacefully, as the gap left is too deep to be filled by chaos.
The residents were speaking during the signing of the condolence book, an initiative which was sponsored by Dr. Robley Ngoje, who is aspiring to be the Member of Parliament for Nyatike Constituency.
They noted that during this mourning period, as the people of Nyatike, they have been forgotten in joining others in mourning of Raila. While speaking to the media they called out the security agencies for this oversight.
“As people from this region, we are seeing others sending their condolences but us, we are forgotten. We thank Dr. Robley Ngoje for his kindness and remembering us in honouring Jakom,” said Mr. Cherera from Sori town.
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