Nairobi: Thousands gathered in Kenya on Friday to mourn veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga at a state funeral held under tight security. The ceremony comes after a turbulent day in which security forces fired tear gas and shots to disperse crowds at a public viewing, leaving several people dead and many injured.

Odinga, 80, died in India on Wednesday where he was receiving medical treatment. Over the past decades, he had become one of Kenya’s most persistent and polarizing political figures, contesting multiple presidential elections and championing democratic reforms.

As news of his passing spread, crowds swelled. On Thursday, when Odinga’s body arrived in Nairobi, supporters stormed the airport and later breached the gates of a stadium designated for public viewing. Reuters witnesses said security forces used tear gas and fired shots some in the air to control the crowd. Authorities reported three deaths; local media placed the toll at four, with dozens wounded.

On Friday, police kept mourners at bay outside the parliament where Odinga’s body lay in state before being moved later to Nyayo National Stadium. President William Ruto, along with the heads of the judiciary and the legislature, attended the funeral.

Inside the stadium, mourners waved white handkerchiefs, beat drums, danced, and blew vuvuzelas. Large banners bearing Odinga’s portrait looked down over the gathering. Among the guests were African dignitaries, including Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Young and old alike spoke of Odinga as a father figure in Kenya’s democracy. “Raila Odinga, the father of democracy in Kenya, was a selfless leader who would risk everything—even his life to make Kenya work,” said Jean Jerry Abeka, 24.

Though Odinga was long known as an opposition force, he once served as prime minister (in 2008), and later forged power-sharing agreements with leaders including Uhuru Kenyatta and, more recently, President Ruto. His alliances shifted over time, but his support base remained deeply loyal especially in his Luo homeland.

In recent years, many of his supporters believed he was robbed of the presidency through electoral fraud. His death leaves a void in Kenyan politics one that his followers say will be hard to fill.