PHOTOS: INSIDE RAILA ODINGA MAUSOLEUM AT KANG’O KA JARAMOGI IN BONDO

A closer look inside the dedicated Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, reveals a memorial designed to preserve the memory and legacy of the late former Prime Minister.

President William Ruto on Wednesday officially commissioned and dedicated the mausoleum during a ceremony attended by members of the Odinga family, government officials, clergy and invited guests.

The mausoleum stands about eight metres from the resting place of Raila’s father, Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. The two memorials are connected by a landscaped walkway, with the new structure featuring a distinctive pentagonal design.

Inside, Raila’s final resting place sits on a broad black marble platform with white veining, while the grave is framed in brown marble and finished with smooth white pebbles.

A black granite headstone carries one of Raila’s well-known political messages, alongside his signature. Historical photographs and artwork are displayed on the memorial walls, documenting key moments from his decades-long public and political life. A bronze portrait of the former Prime Minister also forms part of the interior display.

The structure’s five-sided design carries political and cultural symbolism.

The mausoleum was constructed under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence, with technical input from the National Museums of Kenya.

The site is intended to serve not only as Raila’s final resting place but also as a repository of his history, memory and contribution to Kenya’s democratic development.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, President Ruto read a presidential citation honouring Raila as a patriot, Pan-Africanist and statesman who played a significant role in Kenya’s democratic journey.

The dedication comes eight days before the first anniversary of Raila Odinga’s death on October 15, 2025, bringing a new chapter to the preservation of his legacy at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi.