"Dozens of people have been injured at a memorial event in Kenya's western city of Kisumu as huge crowds gathered to view the body of revered former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, local media reported. The injuries occurred on Saturday at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium despite authorities deploying military units, police and aerial surveillance to prevent a recurrence of deadly and chaotic incidents that marked earlier memorial proceedings on Thursday and Friday."
"Kenya Red Cross teams treated people who fainted from fatigue and distress, evacuating casualties as crowds surged inside the venue. Odinga's body was being transported to his ancestral home in nearby Bondo for burial on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands throughout the region. The additional precautions were put in place after violence and chaos killed at least five people during memorial proceedings for the 80-year-old opposition leader and statesman, who collapsed during a morning walk in India's Kerala state on Wednesday."
"Thursday's initial viewing descended into bloodshed when security forces fired weapons and tear gas into crowds surging towards a pavilion where Odinga's coffin had been placed, killing at least three people at a Nairobi stadium. A day later, panic swept through mourners exiting Friday's state funeral service at a separate venue in the capital, triggering a crowd crush that killed two more and sent 163 to medical care."
Dozens were injured at a memorial event in Kisumu as crowds gathered to view the body of Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Injuries occurred at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium despite deployment of military units, police and aerial surveillance. Kenya Red Cross teams treated people who fainted from fatigue and distress and evacuated casualties as crowds surged. Odinga's body was being transported to his ancestral home in Bondo for burial. Earlier memorial proceedings saw violence and chaos that killed at least five people, after security fired weapons and tear gas and a later crowd crush sent 163 people to medical care. Siaya Governor James Orengo urged the public to maintain peace.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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