Chaos Erupts at JKIA as Hundreds of Mourners Storm Airport
Mild chaos was reported at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on the morning of Thursday, October 16, after hundreds of emotional mourners stormed the facility to receive the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The situation quickly escalated when the crowd breached the VIP gates shortly after the plane carrying Raila’s remains touched down.
In a dramatic turn of events, members of the public pushed their way dangerously close to the aircraft, forcing security agents to act swiftly.
Military personnel, alongside officers from the National Youth Service (NYS) and the police, immediately formed a tight human barricade around the plane to protect the remains of the ODM party leader.
Raila’s body arrived at approximately 9:30am as scheduled and was received with full honours. Among the dignitaries present at the runway was President William Ruto, who led government officials in paying their respects.
Meanwhile, tension was also building away from the runway. A large crowd that had camped at the main entrance of JKIA grew increasingly impatient.
Videos and photos seen by Newshub.co.ke showed hundreds of mourners pushing forward in unison, confronting a visibly overwhelmed group of security officers.
Authorities attempted to calm the situation by pleading with the crowd to maintain order. However, their appeals fell on deaf ears.
The mourners insisted that nothing would stop them from witnessing the arrival of Raila’s remains, saying they had come to pay their final respects and would not be turned away.
The incident highlighted the deep emotional connection many Kenyans still hold towards the late opposition leader, with some observers warning that larger crowds are expected in the coming days as the body is moved to various locations for public viewing.
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