Photos: Raila Odinga’s mausoleum takes shape as construction hits halfway mark

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Defence PS Patrick Mariru shared photos showing significant progress at the Raila Odinga Mausoleum site in Bondo, Siaya County

- The KSh 30 million structure features a pentagonal design with five internal steps, built eight metres from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's resting place

- The Ministry of Defence, which is supervising the KDF-led construction, has set a completion target of September 2026

Fresh photos from the Raila Amollo Odinga Mausoleum construction site in Bondo, Siaya County, show the project is now halfway done, with workers actively laying concrete just weeks after the groundbreaking ceremony in July 2026.

Defence PS Patrick Mariru shared the update on Thursday, confirming the project had reached the 50 per cent mark as of 20 August 2026. The Ministry of Defence is overseeing the construction, which is being carried out by the Kenya Defence Forces.

How does Raila's mausoleum look so far?

The mausoleum's most striking feature is its pentagonal, five-sided shape, a deliberate nod to the historic Pentagon Alliance and what it represented in Kenyan political history.

Five internal steps descend towards the gravesite, and a four-metre buffer zone surrounds the grave to accommodate visitors and mourners during commemorations.

The structure is being built eight metres from the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, positioning father and son side by side as part of a broader heritage landscape at Kang'o ka Jaramogi.

The estimated cost of the project stands at KSh 30 million, and completion is targeted for the end of September 2026.

What does Raila's mausoleum mean?

Beyond the grave itself, the mausoleum is being designed as a living tribute to Raila's decades in politics.

The interior will house mini-exhibitions and interactive QR codes documenting his life and political journey, giving visitors an immersive experience rather than a static memorial.

Plans for the wider site include accommodation and research facilities for visiting scholars, a library, digital archives and an open-air amphitheatre.

The project is being implemented as a national heritage initiative in partnership between the KDF and the National Museums of Kenya.

With construction moving at pace, the September 2026 deadline appears firmly within reach.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.