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Four individuals perished in Nairobi when armed personnel discharged weapons and employed chemical irritants to break up massive crowds at a sports arena where opposition leader Raila Odinga's corpse was on public view.

Political Figure Honored

The statesman, who was a prominent player in the country's governance for decades, succumbed on Wednesday at age 80 while undergoing healthcare in the Asian nation.

He fought tirelessly for democratic systems, and we benefit from those rights today because of his efforts.

Chaos Unfolds at Stadium

Countless followers congregated on roadways from early morning, with chaos erupting when enormous throng forced open a barrier at Nairobi's main stadium, leading to soldiers to shoot skyward.

• A pair of persons lost their lives to gunfire at the venue
• Fatalities subsequently increased to 4
• Numerous persons were hurt
• Authorities used teargas to scatter thousands mourners

Aviation Hub Disruption and Parliament Standoff

During the morning, thousands of mourners briefly stormed Nairobi's international airport, interrupting a ceremony where President William Ruto and government representatives were accepting Odinga's corpse with formal recognition.

This incident prompted a brief stoppage of airport operations.

Groups also overwhelmed nearby roads and tried to enter parliament, where the authorities had initially planned the open visitation.

Political Legacy and Community Support

Though mainly known as an government critic, Odinga became senior minister in 2008 and also established a political pact with the president last year in a political journey characterized by evolving coalitions.

He inspired strong loyalty among supporters, notably in his ethnic group based in the country's west, many of whom believe he was deprived of the presidency by electoral fraud.

Many of Odinga's mourners, who were not yet born in 1991 when Kenya became a pluralistic political system, offered homage to Odinga's contributions as an activist.