A General Service Unit (GSU) officer attached to the VIP Protection Unit of Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa reportedly lost his Jericho pistol during the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Bondo, Siaya County.
The incident occurred at around 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) grounds, where thousands of mourners had gathered to pay their last respects to the veteran opposition leader.
According to reports, the officer realized his firearm was missing from its holster while he was trying to shield Governor Barasa from a rowdy crowd that had surged forward during the ceremony. It is suspected that unidentified youths took advantage of the chaos to snatch the pistol.
The event, attended by several high-profile dignitaries including President William Ruto, saw heavy security presence. Despite that, the commotion and the large turnout created opportunities for such incidents. Police have since launched investigations and appealed to members of the public with any information that could lead to the recovery of the firearm to come forward.
The burial marked the final send-off for Raila Odinga, whose body had earlier been viewed in Nairobi and Kisumu before being laid to rest at his Opoda home in Bondo. The occasion was characterized by emotional tributes and a 17-gun salute in his honour.
However, the week-long events leading to his burial were not without tragedy. In Nairobi, at least three people lost their lives and several others were injured on Thursday, October 16, after police opened fire on a rowdy crowd at Kasarani Stadium during the body viewing ceremony.
Authorities are now under pressure to recover the missing pistol and ensure accountability amid growing public concern over security lapses during the highly attended national event.
