Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating situation at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where dozens of Kenyans injured in the Kasarani Stadium stampede are receiving treatment following the chaotic public viewing of Raila Odinga’s body.
Omtatah visited the facility on Sunday evening, where he found overwhelmed medical staff struggling to manage the influx of casualties. He revealed that over 40 victims had been admitted to KNH’s Emergency and Accident Unit, with one person confirmed dead from the incident.
“During my visit, I met the head of the emergency unit and the medical team, who have been working tirelessly under immense pressure,” Omtatah said. “They are grappling with limited resources as they try to save lives amid this overwhelming crisis.”
The senator expressed frustration that many victims were still being charged for treatment despite the emergency nature of their injuries. He noted that only a few qualified for emergency medical waivers, leaving many families burdened with unexpected hospital bills.
Omtatah pledged to lobby for immediate government intervention, urging the Ministry of Health to ensure that all victims receive full medical support without financial obstacles. He emphasized the need for a structured national response to such tragedies.
“It is deeply worrying that many of the injured are still expected to meet their medical costs,” Omtatah added. “I have undertaken to pursue swift measures so that every victim receives prompt and affordable medical care.”
The Kasarani stampede occurred on Thursday, October 16, during the public viewing of Raila Odinga’s body at the Moi International Sports Centre. Police fired tear gas after sections of the crowd turned chaotic, attempting to access restricted areas. The sudden commotion caused a stampede as thousands of mourners fled in panic.
Within minutes, the once-packed stadium was left empty, with scores injured amid the confusion. Witnesses reported that the chaos began after some attendees threw stones toward the pitch, prompting a forceful police response.
Omtatah has since called for urgent reforms in Kenya’s emergency response systems and hospital preparedness, stressing that the government must learn from the Kasarani tragedy to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“The state must act decisively,” he said. “We cannot continue to lose lives and watch our public hospitals buckle under preventable crises.”
