BBC Investigation Links Elite Police Unit to Fatal Kasarani Stadium Shootings During Raila’s Farewell
A BBC Africa Eye investigation has linked an elite police unit responsible for presidential protection to the fatal shootings of mourners at former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s farewell ceremony at Kasarani Stadium, raising fresh questions about the use of lethal force during the October 2025 incident.
The investigation found that at least three people killed during the ceremony were positioned between 60 and 160 metres from the confrontation near the VIP pavilion, challenging questions about whether the use of live ammunition was necessary to control the unrest.
The shootings claimed the lives of three mourners who had gathered at the Nairobi stadium on October 16, 2025, to pay their last respects to the veteran opposition leader.
According to the BBC’s analysis, more than 1,500 images and videos from the day were examined to reconstruct the events and establish where the victims were standing when the gunfire erupted.
The findings have renewed scrutiny of police conduct during the ceremony, with investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) still ongoing and no one having been held accountable for the deaths, according to the report.
Three Mourners Killed Far From Main Confrontation
Among those killed was Evan Kiche, a 40-year-old chef and father of seven, who was reportedly about 60 metres from the confrontation.
The other victims, Vincent Ogutu and Hidah Burka, were positioned in opposite stands at least 160 metres from the area where clashes had broken out, according to the BBC’s analysis of the footage.
Their locations have become a central part of the investigation, raising questions about how officers deployed around the stadium responded to the developing situation.
The BBC’s findings suggest that the gunfire reached areas beyond the immediate confrontation near the VIP pavilion, where some members of the crowd had attempted to force their way towards the restricted section.
How the Kasarani Ceremony Turned Chaotic
Thousands of Kenyans travelled to Kasarani Stadium to honour Raila Odinga, whose death had prompted an outpouring of grief across the country.
For about four hours, mourners waited for his body to arrive at the venue as security officers worked to manage the large crowds.
The atmosphere, which had largely remained peaceful, deteriorated when police moved to disperse sections of the crowd.
Later, some mourners attempted to force their way into the VIP section and threw objects towards officers, prompting a response that included the use of live ammunition.
However, footage from other sections of the stadium showed mourners who were not directly involved in the confrontation, according to the BBC’s reconstruction.
The distance between the victims and the clashes has raised questions about whether officers adequately distinguished between those involved in the unrest and other people gathered at the stadium.
Murkomen Defends Police Response
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen defended the police response, saying officers had exercised restraint despite some members of the crowd throwing objects at them.
When questioned about the conduct of officers, Murkomen suggested the shooting may have resulted from individual decisions made in the heat of the moment rather than a centrally directed order.
“I don’t think… somebody [was] sitting there and saying: ‘Shoot now’. It is the judgment of the police officer at the spur of the moment,” Murkomen said.
However, the BBC reported that its review of footage showed plastic chairs being thrown at police officers, rather than stones as had been suggested in accounts of the confrontation.
The distinction has added to questions about the circumstances in which officers decided to use live ammunition and whether the response was proportionate to the threat they faced.
Elite Police Units Present at the Stadium
The investigation also identified heavily armed officers from several units at the scene, including members of the Police Escort Unit (PEU), the General Service Unit (GSU) and tactical teams.
Some members of the Police Escort Unit, which is associated with presidential protection duties, were reportedly dressed in suits while operating around the stadium.
The presence of officers assigned to high-level security operations has brought renewed attention to the command structure and responsibilities of the different units deployed during the ceremony.
The BBC’s findings link an elite police unit to the incident, although the precise responsibility of individual officers for the fatal shootings remains a matter for investigators to establish.
IPOA Investigation Faces Questions Over Accountability
The findings come as IPOA continues investigating the deaths, with the case remaining unresolved months after the shootings.
The authority is responsible for independently examining police conduct and establishing whether officers acted within the law.
The BBC investigation has added further evidence for public scrutiny by reconstructing the victims’ locations and examining the sequence of events captured in photographs and videos.
The central questions now include which officers fired the fatal shots, who authorised the use of live ammunition, and whether the force used complied with legal requirements governing police operations.
For the families of Kiche, Ogutu and Burka, the continuing investigation represents a search for answers over how their relatives died while attending a ceremony intended to honour one of Kenya’s most prominent political figures.
The findings have also renewed debate over police accountability and the protection of civilians during large public gatherings.
As IPOA’s investigations continue, the circumstances surrounding the deaths at Kasarani Stadium remain a significant test of whether those responsible for unlawful use of force can be identified and held accountable.
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