How to protect yourself from stampedes at major events like Raila’s burial
By Steve Ireri, October 18, 2025As the nation prepares to lay the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga to rest on Sunday, October 19, 2025, concerns over public safety continue to mount.
Since his body arrived in Kenya from India, the massive outpouring of mourners has led to multiple stampedes across different viewing venues, exposing glaring gaps in crowd management and personal safety during national events.
When Raila’s body first arrived in Nairobi, the initial plan to have a public viewing at Parliament Buildings was quickly abandoned after tens of thousands of mourners overwhelmed the space, prompting officials to shift the exercise to Kasarani.
At the Moi International Sports Centre, the sheer number of mourners, estimated to have surpassed 100,000, resulted in chaos that left at least three people dead and dozens injured as crowds surged toward VIP sections.
The following day, at the state funeral in Nyayo National Stadium, two more people lost their lives in another stampede at Gate 5, with over 160 others injured. Medics were seen rushing in with stretchers and oxygen tanks as people fainted from suffocation and exhaustion.
On October 18, 2025, in Kisumu, tragedy nearly repeated itself at Mamboleo Stadium, where several mourners were injured in yet another stampede as thousands fought to view Raila’s body before its airlift to Bondo.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that emergency teams evacuated those in critical condition to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
With Raila’s burial scheduled for Sunday in Bondo, security teams are now on high alert amid fears that crowd pressure could intensify even further. Yet beyond state-level measures, there are vital lessons every Kenyan can learn on how to protect themselves during large, emotional public events like this one.
Below are five essential hacks to prevent injury or death in a stampede.
1. Stay alert and scan your surroundings
Stampedes often begin with small surges that escalate quickly. Always pay attention to changes in crowd movement, loud noises, or sudden panic among nearby attendees.
If you see people pushing or rushing toward one direction, move diagonally away from the flow rather than directly against it.
Staying alert to your environment gives you critical seconds to react before chaos builds.
2. Avoid the centre of the crowd
Always stay near the edges of large gatherings rather than in the middle, where movement is most restricted.
The centre of a dense crowd is the deadliest place to be once panic sets in because the pressure from all sides can crush or suffocate people.
In events like Raila’s funeral, where emotions are high, find a position that allows for an easy exit, preferably near open spaces or barriers that are not fenced in.
3. Keep your breathing space and posture steady
In a crush, the main danger is asphyxiation, not being trampled. If you find yourself caught in a surge, keep your elbows bent and slightly forward, creating a small pocket of space for your chest to expand.
Avoid bending down or picking up fallen items, as doing so increases the risk of being knocked over.
Slow, deliberate breathing and maintaining balance can make the difference between life and death in packed environments.
4. Move with the crowd, not against it
When a surge occurs, never try to fight against the direction of movement.
Doing so wastes energy and increases your chances of falling. Instead, go with the flow while gradually moving sideways toward the edge.
This technique allows you to escape pressure zones without causing resistance that could worsen the panic.
5. Follow organisers’ and security instructions immediately
During major funerals like that of Raila Odinga, security personnel and Red Cross officers are stationed across venues for a reason.
Listen to their guidance and use designated entry and exit points. If an area is closed off, do not attempt to force your way in.
In Kisumu, many injuries occurred because mourners pushed past security cordons to access the main viewing area.
Obeying instructions is always about order, not necessarily survival.