Heavy security after deadly violence in Kenya as thousands turn out to mourn former PM Odinga

NAIROBI Kenya AP Heavy shield has been deployed to Kenya s western city of Kisumu ahead of the final constituents viewing of the body of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga after five people died in the last two constituents funeral events Military officers regular police and air surveillance teams were present Saturday at the soccer stadium where thousands of mourners stayed overnight awaiting the opportunity to view Odinga s body Odinga was a respected and critical figure in Kenya and beyond a veteran politician lauded by several including former U S President Barack Obama for his fight for democracy He died Wednesday in India at the age of and is expected to be buried Sunday at his rural home in Bondo in western Kenya Odinga s supporters known for their passion and resilience have been turning out by the thousands since his body arrived in the country Thursday Police fired live bullets and tear gas killing three people at a soccer stadium Thursday when a confrontation ensued during the first general viewing On Friday a stampede occurred shortly after dignitaries left the venue of the state funeral institution leaving two people dead and others injured Odinga s widow Ida had appealed during the arrangement for Kenyans to mourn peacefully His brother Oburu called on mourners not to give police any reason to use tear gas or force Raila should not be teargassed in death He has been teargassed enough when he was alive Please let us not cause a situation where he is teargassed again he revealed Odinga ran for Kenya s presidency five times over three decades and although he never succeeded in becoming president he is revered for a life of activism that helped steer Kenya toward becoming a vibrant multiparty democracy Odinga s body lay in state at parliament on Friday morning ahead of the funeral an honor only reserved for the president and former presidents Kenya s President William Ruto eulogized him as a patriot and selfless statesman who helped to steady the country Ruto campaigned for Odinga in a disputed ballot that was marred by violence The two men were rivals in subsequent elections including the bulk newest one in The two leaders signed an agreement this year after months of anti-government protests and the pact saw opposition party members appointed to Cabinet positions Source