IN PICTURES: Emergency Crew’s Busy Day Giving First Aid to Mourners in Kisumu

First aid and emergency teams were kept busy today at the Mamboleo showground in Kisumu. The venue hosted the final public viewing of the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The high demand for medical attention underscored the emotional and physical toll of the mass gathering.

First Responders on the Pitch

Teams of medics and first aid personnel were visible across the stadium's pitch. They quickly attended to several mourners who had collapsed or sustained injuries. The visible relief crews were often seen wearing distinctive red and yellow/green vests.

Several individuals received immediate care on the grass itself. This highlights the immediacy of the emergencies.

In one instance, medics in green vests were crouched over a patient lying on the ground. They appeared to be stabilising the individual.

Evacuating the Injured

Other mourners required rapid evacuation from the crowded area. Search and Rescue teams, identified by red uniforms with cross emblems, were seen carrying the injured. Some patients were moved on stretchers.

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One dramatic moment showed a first responder carrying a young child. The child was dressed in red and was being quickly moved away from the main crowd. This indicates that both adults and children required assistance in the dense environment.

Context of Previous Events

The atmosphere in Kisumu was particularly tense. This follows a wave of deadly incidents at other public viewing events for Mr Odinga in Nairobi.

On Friday according to reports, a stampede at a stadium in Nairobi killed two people and left 163 others injured.

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Days earlier, during another viewing in the capital, four people were killed. Mourners were urged by Odinga's brother, Oburu, to mourn peacefully. He pleaded, “Raila should not be teargassed in death”.

The events at Mamboleo today appear to be a continuation of the high-risk memorial period. Heavy security, including military officers and air surveillance, was deployed to the western city of Kisumu ahead of the public viewing.

Logistics and High Demand

The high number of visitors to Kisumu for the final rites has strained local logistics. Kenya Airways increased and upgraded its flights to Kisumu this weekend to handle the high travel demand.

Mr Odinga's body will be laid to rest on Sunday, 19 October 2025, at his family home in Bondo, Siaya County. His bodyguard, Maurice Ogeta, was among those paying their respects. Ogeta was visibly emotional during the ceremony.

The visible efforts by the medical teams at Mamboleo are crucial. They provide immediate assistance to mourners as the country goes through its largest day of mourning in the region.