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A quartet of persons were killed in the capital city when security forces shot and employed chemical irritants to break up enormous assemblies at a venue where statesman Raila Odinga's body was lying in state.

National Figure Remembered

The politician, who remained a prominent player in Kenyan politics for decades, died on Wednesday at age 80 while receiving medical treatment in the subcontinent.

He campaigned vigorously for political pluralism, and we are enjoying those liberties today because of his work.

Turmoil Breaks Out at Arena

Countless followers gathered on the streets from sunrise, with mayhem occurring when enormous throng forced open a entrance at the capital's primary venue, causing military personnel to discharge weapons upward.

• A pair of persons lost their lives to gunfire at the location
• Fatalities eventually reached to four
• Many people sustained injuries
• Authorities deployed chemical agents to scatter numerous attendees

Airport Disruption and Government Building Standoff

Earlier in the day, numerous of supporters temporarily invaded Nairobi's international airport, disrupting a ceremony where the head of state and dignitaries were accepting Odinga's corpse with formal recognition.

This situation prompted a brief stoppage of aviation services.

Assemblies also occupied adjacent streets and attempted to breach parliament, where the government had originally scheduled the public viewing.

National Heritage and Ethnic Support

Though mainly known as an political challenger, Odinga served as prime minister in 2008 and also established a political pact with the president last year in a career marked by evolving coalitions.

He commanded strong loyalty among followers, particularly in his ethnic group based in western Kenya, many of whom contend he was denied the presidency by electoral fraud.

Many of Odinga's supporters, who were not yet born in 1991 when Kenya established itself as a multi-faction governance, offered homage to Odinga's work as an campaigner.