How Intelligence Picked A Potential Security Threat in Parliament At Scheduled Viewing of Raila’s Body

The abrupt change of venue for the public viewing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s body from Parliament Buildings to Kasarani Stadium was triggered by an urgent intelligence brief that flagged a looming security crisis, Kenya Insights has established.

Security agencies raised the alarm after thousands of emotional mourners began massing outside Parliament as early as 4am on Thursday, with their numbers swelling rapidly as the morning progressed.

The intelligence assessment painted a troubling picture of a situation spiraling beyond control, prompting the funeral steering committee to make the last-minute decision to relocate the viewing ceremony.

Sources privy to the deliberations revealed that while the mourners were largely peaceful in their conduct, the sheer volume of people converging on the parliamentary precinct set off alarm bells within the security establishment.

The situation became particularly concerning when intelligence officers factored in additional crowds streaming in from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where Raila’s body had just arrived from India.

The breaking point came when security checks around Parliament painted an increasingly volatile picture. With President William Ruto expected to arrive at noon to receive the body and officially open the public viewing, security personnel realized they were staring at a potential catastrophe.

The convergence of massive crowds, heightened emotions, and the presence of the Head of State created what one source described as an unacceptable risk profile.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula had earlier informed the House that everything was proceeding according to plan, with the President scheduled to receive Raila’s body at Parliament. However, events on the ground were moving faster than the official programme.

Members of the Kenya Defence Forces disperse the crowd after the arrival of the body of former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who had been receiving medical treatment in India when he died, in Nairobi, Kenya October 16, 2025.
Photo credit: REUTERS

At the Senate gate, crowds were becoming increasingly difficult to manage, prompting Wetang’ula to personally step out in an attempt to calm the surging masses. His efforts proved futile.

The scenes outside Parliament were unprecedented. Mourners, many clutching twigs and white handkerchiefs in traditional gestures of mourning, had breached barriers at City Hall Way.

Some were seen climbing the gates of Parliament Buildings, desperate to secure their place among the first to view their departed leader.

Emma Achieng from Lakisama, who had arrived at 4am, captured the mood when she told reporters she would not leave until she confirmed Raila was indeed dead.

Security forces had deployed in force, with National Police Service officers, National Youth Service personnel, and special units creating a heavy presence around Parliament.

All roads leading to the complex were barricaded, and at the roundabout connecting City Hall Way to Parliament Road, police attempted to erect razor wire to block access.

Yet the crowds kept coming.

The intelligence brief was stark in its assessment.

With emotions already running high and numbers continuing to swell, security officials could not guarantee the safety of either the mourners or the President once Raila’s body arrived at Parliament.

The potential for a stampede, combined with the impossibility of conducting proper security screening for such massive crowds, left authorities with little choice.

Wetang’ula subsequently returned to the House to announce the change, citing insufficient space at Parliament Buildings to accommodate the expected crowds. It was a diplomatic way of communicating what the intelligence had made clear: Parliament was no longer a viable venue.

The decision came none too soon.

By 10:45am, police trucks that had been blocking Parliament Road were being driven away, leaving only ambulances for emergency cases.

Yet many mourners, like John Ochieng, refused to believe the venue had changed, suspecting a ploy to divert them while Raila’s body was quietly brought to Parliament.

The funeral committee, headed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, ultimately made the call to shift to Kasarani Stadium, a venue with the capacity and open space to handle the massive turnout while maintaining security protocols.

The decision, while disappointing to many who had camped outside Parliament for hours, was driven by the stark reality that the nation’s legislative hub was simply not equipped to handle an outpouring of grief on such a monumental scale.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Hundreds of people gather on the streets to bid farewell to former Prime Minister and politician Raila Odinga, who passed away while receiving treatment at a hospital, on October 16, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo credit: REUTERS