Kenyan airport shuts down as large crowds collect to obtain ex-PM’s physique

Operations have been briefly suspended at Kenya’s foremost airport after hundreds of mourners turned out to obtain the physique of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a day after he died in India.

Massive crowds of mourners carrying twigs and palm branches breached safety at Jomo Kenyatta Worldwide Airport (JKIA) instantly after the physique of the previous chief arrived on Thursday morning.

Authorities mentioned mourners gained entry to restricted areas, prompting a “precautionary closure” to permit safety groups to revive order and guarantee security.

The airport later mentioned operations had been restored following the shutdown, which lasted about two hours.

Due to the unexpectedly big crowds, the general public viewing ceremony for his physique has been moved to Nairobi’s Moi Worldwide Sports activities Centre, reasonably than contained in the parliament constructing.

Mourners thronged the streets and different places within the capital as they waited to welcome Odinga’s physique.

Large crowds gathered on the freeway from the airport, at Lee Funeral House the place the physique was first anticipated, and round parliament.

“I got here right here at six within the morning. We have now been on the airport to welcome Baba [Odinga’s nickname], now we have not but seen him. We’re ready and we hope we’ll see him, we’ll not go away till we do. We’re unhappy, now we have been left as orphans. He’s our father,” one mourner advised the BBC close to the airport.

The state funeral shall be held on the Nyayo Nationwide Stadium in Nairobi on Friday and on Saturday his physique shall be transported to Kisumu, a metropolis in western Kenya on the shores of Lake Victoria – his political stronghold.

Members of the general public will get an opportunity to view the physique earlier than he’s buried on Sunday at his farm in Bondo, about 60km west of Kisumu.

In line with the household, it was Odinga’s want to be laid to relaxation inside the shortest time attainable, ideally inside 72 hours.

The 80-year-old former prime minister collapsed throughout a morning stroll in India on Wednesday morning and he was taken to Devamatha Hospital, about 50km (30 miles) east of the port metropolis of Kochi.

A seven-day interval of mourning has been declared. Odinga may also be accorded a state funeral with full army honours, Ruto mentioned.

Odinga spent a few years as an opposition chief, dropping 5 presidential campaigns, most not too long ago three years in the past.