BONDO, Kenya – There was drama and confusion during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday after a police officer attached to Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa was robbed of his loaded pistol amid chaotic scenes at the event.
According to police reports, the constable — a General Service Unit (GSU) officer currently assigned to the governor’s VIP protection detail — lost his Jericho pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition around 4:30 p.m.
The incident occurred as the funeral ceremony at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) was winding down and mourners escorted Raila’s body to his Opoda home for interment.
Police said the officer was boarding the governor’s official vehicle at the university’s main gate when a group of rowdy youths surrounded them.
In the commotion, one of the youths allegedly snatched the pistol from the officer’s holster and fled.
“He was in the company of four other officers and sustained bruises while struggling to recover the weapon,” a police report reads in part.
Efforts to pursue the suspect immediately after the robbery were futile due to the size of the crowd, which police said had become unruly. A manhunt for the suspects was still underway as of Monday, with police suspecting the culprits may have fled the area.
Robbery Spree and Chaos at Funeral
Several mourners also reported losing personal belongings, including phones and wallets, during the burial.
Police said some individuals had disguised themselves as mourners but were in fact part of organised gangs that took advantage of the crowd.
Security agencies were forced to deploy additional officers — including military personnel — to help contain the surging crowds that flocked to Bondo for the high-profile burial.
Authorities said some people who were locked out of the main service at the university turned rowdy and began robbing locals in Bondo town.
Others forced their way into Opoda Farm, disrupting the funeral for several minutes under the guise of observing cultural practices.
Tragedy as Mourners Die in Separate Incidents
Meanwhile, at least five people died in separate incidents as thousands jostled to view Raila Odinga’s body.
Three were shot dead at Kasarani Stadium, where the body had earlier been displayed, while two others died in a stampede at Nyayo Stadium.
More than 300 mourners were injured in the incidents, several of whom remain hospitalised with multiple injuries. Police have since admitted they were overwhelmed by the massive crowds.
Authorities say a recovery operation is ongoing for the stolen firearm as investigations continue into the violent incidents that marked the burial of one of Kenya’s most influential political figures.
