Raila Odinga's send-off took an unexpected turn moments after dignitaries, led by President William Ruto, had departed, when a large group of mourners who had been locked out of the private burial ceremony stormed the former Prime Minister’s gravesite at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.
The hundreds of mourners tore the wreaths laid at the gravesite that was still being cemented while chanting, pushing and dancing.
Videos and images seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed the mourners storming the compound, with some climbing onto the roof of the mausoleum that hosted Kenya's first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Mourners thronged the former premier's burial site as they broke into song and customary dance.
Notably, the breaching of the fence to gain access to Raila's grave by the public was contrary to the family's wishes, since they intimated several times that they wanted the burial ceremony to be a private affair.
Prior to the invasion of Raila's grave, the former Prime Minister's family and other dignitaries, including President William Ruto, had laid wreaths and other symbolic items around the grave in a final farewell.
However, excited mourners completely dominated the site barely an hour later, destroying all the flowers and overwhelming other decorations around the grave by their sheer numbers.
Security personnel at the site attempted to control the crowd, but they were ultimately overwhelmed as more mourners made their way to the site, bearing branches and other items while chanting cultural slogans.
The mourners brought with them seven bulls, with some carrying spears and shields. A majority were covered with green leaves and danced with the leaves.
According to one elder interviewed during the incident, the dancing with leaves and storming the compound are to chase away any demons and return health and life to the community.
The incident had some similarities to scenes witnessed on Thursday, October 16, when the former Premier's body arrived in the country from India through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
At the time, thousands of civilians stormed the airport, overwhelming security to the point they made their way to the runway, demanding to see the body of their beloved party leader.
The sheer numbers proved to be so overwhelming that it forced the newly appointed funeral committee to move the viewing ceremony from Parliament to the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani.
Raila, who died on Wednesday, October 15, in India, was buried alongside his trademark hat, commonly referred to as 'Ogudu' in the Luo language and 'whisk' or 'Orengo', in what was a symbolic gesture to highlight his influence as per Luo traditions.
