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A quartet of persons perished in Nairobi when law enforcement opened fire and employed chemical irritants to scatter massive crowds at a venue where political figure Raila Odinga's remains was lying in state.

National Figure Honored

The politician, who was a major force in Kenyan politics for decades, succumbed on midweek at 80 years old while in hospital care in India.

He campaigned vigorously for democratic systems, and we benefit from those freedoms today because of his work.

Chaos Erupts at Venue

Thousands supporters gathered on the streets from sunrise, with mayhem occurring when massive group breached a gate at the capital's primary venue, prompting military personnel to fire in the air.

• A pair of persons lost their lives to gunfire at the location
• Casualties eventually reached to four people
• Scores of individuals sustained injuries
• Authorities used teargas to disperse thousands mourners

Aviation Hub Disruption and Government Building Situation

During the morning, countless of supporters briefly stormed the capital's aviation hub, interrupting a formal proceeding where the head of state and government representatives were receiving Odinga's body with armed forces tribute.

This incident prompted a temporary halt of airport operations.

Assemblies also flooded nearby roads and sought to penetrate parliament, where the government had originally scheduled the community homage.

National Impact and Ethnic Support

While predominantly identified as an government critic, Odinga served as head of government in 2008 and also established a political pact with the leader last year in a career marked by shifting alliances.

He generated passionate devotion among supporters, particularly in his Luo community based in western Kenya, many of whom maintain he was denied the nation's leadership by vote manipulation.

Many of Odinga's followers, who were not living in 1991 when Kenya transitioned to a multi-party democracy, offered homage to Odinga's work as an activist.