Business at standstill as Senator Otieno Kajwang’s body arrives in Kisumu Businesses in Kisumu came was paralysed on Thursday as Senator Otieno Kajwang’s body arrived in ODM leaders carry the coffin bearing the body of Senator Otieno Kajwang into a waiting car after it arrived at Kisumu International Airport on November 27, 2014. Thousands of Kisumu residents thronged the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds for a prayer service. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP Ads by Google Find Fulfillment - in God! - m.godlife/Jesus ADVERTISEMENT Businesses in Kisumu was paralysed on Thursday as Senator Otieno Kajwang’s body arrived in the lakeside town. The late Kajwang’s body arrived at Kisumu International Airport at 9am. Later, there was a one-hour procession along Oginga Odinga Street to the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground for a public prayer service. The hearse carrying the body was escorted by youths waving twigs and chanting “bado mapambano,” a slogan popularised by Mr Kajwang. Some residents took positions on rooftops to get a better glimpse of the procession. And perhaps to avoid a repetition of the chaos that marred a prayer event at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on Wednesday, mourners in Kisumu were not allowed to view the senator’s body. At the Kenyatta Sports Grounds, Cord leader Raila Odinga led other leaders, including governors, senators and MPs, to pay tribute to the senator, whom they described as a loyal leader who fought for the second liberation. YOUTHS CAUSE STIR Earlier at the airport, irate ODM youths caused a security scare when they stormed the airport moments after the plane carrying the body arrived. The youths were angry that they were denied entry into the airport soon after the body was offloaded from a police aircraft. ADVERTISEMENT Police officers had also attempted to block ODM national chairman John Mbadi from entering the airport. Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyongo and Homa Bay County Woman Representative Gladys Wanga had to intervene. Some of the security officers at the airport cocked their guns but were restrained by their superiors. Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’ and other family members and the late senators bodyguard, Michael Kaoga, arrived in another police aircraft. Other leaders who received the body at the airport were Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti and his Siaya counterpart Cornel Rasanga. Hundreds of mourners lined up along the Kisumu-Homa Bay road to receive the body of the late senator. A convoy of more than 300 vehicles escorted the hearse bearing Kajwangs remains. Upon reaching the Katito-Homa Bay road, hundreds of grief- stricken mourners wailed as the convoy snaked its way to Mbita. Security officers had a hectic moment trying to control the mourners who thronged the town to have a glimpse of the hearse. The hearse, however, left without the residents viewing the body due to fears that the massive crowd would damage the coffin.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 18:06:17 +0000