The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has reached out to families of Kenyans who tragically lost their lives during the body viewing of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as the party moves to honor their memory and demand justice for their deaths.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna confirmed on Friday, through a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), that the party had officially invited the families of the deceased to Chungwa House — ODM’s headquarters in Nairobi — for a condolence meeting.
“We invited the families of the late Vincent Otieno Ogutu, Evan Onyango Kiche, Josfae Jida Burka, and Josephine Akeng’o to Chungwa House today. They were among those killed in the course of mourning Baba at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium. We extended our condolences and support on behalf of the entire ODM family, especially in the search for justice for these needless deaths,” Sifuna wrote.
The meeting comes barely a week after the passing of Raila Amolo Odinga, the ODM leader and former Prime Minister, who died in India at the age of 80. According to reports, Odinga succumbed to cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment in New Delhi, where he had been flown for specialized medical care.
Following the announcement of Odinga’s death, thousands of his supporters gathered at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums to pay their final respects. However, the process was marred by tragedy when several people were either trampled in a stampede or fatally shot by security officers attempting to control the surging crowds.
The four individuals identified by Sifuna — Ogutu, Kiche, Burka, and Akeng’o — are among those confirmed to have lost their lives under these circumstances. The incidents sparked public outrage, with human rights activists and opposition supporters demanding an independent investigation into the causes of the deaths and the conduct of security forces during the viewing events.
At Chungwa House, the ODM leadership reportedly offered condolences and promised to stand with the bereaved families as they seek answers and accountability. Sifuna emphasized that the party would not relent until justice is served for the victims who died while expressing their love and respect for the late Odinga, affectionately known as “Baba.”
Political analysts view the move by ODM as both a humanitarian and symbolic gesture — an acknowledgment of the sacrifices made by loyal supporters of the long-time opposition leader. It also underscores the emotional intensity surrounding Odinga’s death, which has been described as the end of an era in Kenya’s political history.
Raila Odinga’s death has triggered a nationwide wave of mourning, with tributes pouring in from across the political divide and the international community.
