There were dramatic scenes outside Parliament Buildings on Thursday, October 16, 2025, as thousands of mourners scaled the perimeter wall in anticipation of viewing the body of the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
Crowds began assembling as early as 4:00 a.m., filling the streets surrounding Parliament as they waited to pay their final respects to the iconic opposition leader, whose remains had arrived earlier that morning from India.
Amid the growing tension, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino climbed the Parliament wall to address the restless crowd, appealing for calm and sharing updates on changes to the public viewing arrangements.
“The venue for the public viewing has been moved from Parliament to the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani,” Owino announced, urging mourners to remain orderly and follow police guidance.
The move came after the overwhelming turnout made it impossible to safely accommodate the massive crowd within the Parliament precincts. Members of Parliament, led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, had earlier attempted to calm the situation before the final decision to relocate the event was made.
In an official statement released later in the day, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) confirmed the change of venue, citing security and public safety concerns.
“The Government wishes to inform members of the public of a change in venue for the public viewing of the body of the late Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga. The viewing will now be held at Kasarani Stadium and not at Parliament Buildings as earlier announced,” the statement read in part.
The Kasarani Stadium, a facility known for hosting major state and national events, was selected to accommodate the tens of thousands of Kenyans streaming into Nairobi from across the country to mourn the fallen leader.
Authorities have urged the public to proceed directly to Kasarani Stadium and to cooperate with security and traffic officers managing the heavy flow of people and vehicles along Thika Road and adjacent routes.
“The public is advised to plan their movements accordingly and to fully cooperate with traffic police and security officers on site,” the statement concluded.
As the nation continues to mourn, the sheer turnout reflects the depth of Raila Odinga’s influence and the emotional weight of his passing a moment marking the end of an era in Kenya’s political history.
