Raila Odinga: Kenyan police fire shots and tear gas to disperse crowds at Kasarani stadium

The crowds were so big that the public viewing was moved from the parliament building to a stadium.

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Several people at the arena, located in the capital Nairobi, were reportedly injured in the chaos as security officers sought to disperse the surging crowds.

It is not yet clear whether the police were using live ammunition or rubber bullets.

Odinga's body was flown back from India, where he died on Wednesday morning. Thousands of supporters had earlier travelled to the country's main airport to receive the coffin, in an outpouring of grief that forced a brief halt to flights.

The authorities said mourners had gained access to restricted areas, prompting a "precautionary closure" that lasted about two hours.