NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 29 – There was drama at Nyayo Stadium on Friday when one of Raila Odinga’s bodyguards was roughed by fellow police officers.
The officer had attempted to forcefully accompany his boss to the VIP entrance at the stadium when police officers, including from the Presidential Escort and military, stationed outside blocked him.
In a short video that went viral on social media, one of the officers was heard telling Raila’s bodyguard that, “There is nowhere you are going, he is very safe in there.”
Odinga arrived at the stadium accompanied by his wife Ida and were welcomed by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Amb Macharia Kamau who ushered them in, oblivious of the unfolding drama.
Odinga was among dignitaries who attended the State Funeral for Kibaki at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Three visiting Heads of State and other foreign dignitaries joined President Uhuru Kenyatta in paying their last respects to Kibaki who served Kenya as third president in two terms from 2002 to 2012.
A procession accompanying Kibaki’s coffin approached at 10:30am local time (0730 GMT).
Kibaki, who trained as an economist in Uganda and London, was elected in 2002 after promising to tackle corruption. But his decade in power was marred by scandals and Kenya’s worst political violence since independence.
In late 2007, his disputed re-election led to violence between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin, two of the country’s largest communities. More than 1,000 people were killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced.
However, Kenya experienced strong economic growth under his leadership, notably through his Vision 2030 programme, taken up by Kenyatta, which allowed the launch of major infrastructure projects as well as health and education reforms.
The circumstances of Kibaki’s death have not been made public. His health suffered following a serious car accident in 2002 and he was regularly admitted to hospital in recent years.
The former president is due to be buried on Saturday in the town of Othaya, 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Nairobi, where he spent time after leaving office.
Kibaki’s body was first taken to State House in a military procession from Lee Funeral Home, before it was escorted to the stadium 6 kilometers away.
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