There were tense moments at the Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu after several mourners reportedly collapsed during the viewing of the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The incident prompted a swift response from the medical and security teams deployed to manage the surging crowd.
The emotional mourners collapsed moments after viewing Odinga's body inside the stadium, where thousands of mourners had lined up to pay their tributes to the veteran opposition leader.
Among those who collapsed was a prominent politician from Vihiga County, Emuhaya Constituency, who suddenly fell unconscious moments after leaving the viewing area.
Footage obtained by vihiga.xyz showed several people lying on the ground, even as the paramedical team led by the Kenya Red Cross and the Kisumu County Disaster Management team rushed to provide first aid.
According to doctors who attended to Vihiga politician, Wilfred Makarios, he is currently in stable condition but will remain hospitalized for several days for further observation and treatment.
An emergency treatment was conducted on the victims before they were carried away in lightweight stretchers for further medical care.
The chaotic scenes inside the stadium were further exacerbated by a brief period of tension after another mourner attempted to breach the tight security to access Odinga's body.
Security officers, who were on high alert, quickly intervened and stopped the man from proceeding further. He was swiftly carried away by a contingent of armed officers.
A few minutes after the incident, security personnel at the stadium were increased as police struggled to control the growing crowd during the public viewing.
Meanwhile, Odinga's public viewing at the Mamboleo Stadium comes ahead of his final send-off at his native home in Bondo, Siaya County.
The former Prime Minister will be laid to rest on Sunday, October 19, in a burial ceremony expected to be attended by close family members, top leaders, and thousands of mourners from across the country.
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