PHOTOS: First look at Sh30m proposed Raila Odinga Mausoleum

The National Museums of Kenya (NMK), through Chief Architect Sanso Malaki, has unveiled the architectural designs for the proposed Raila Odinga Mausoleum during a groundbreaking ceremony attended by senior government officials, members of the Odinga family.

Presenting the master plan in a video seen by TNX Africa, Malaki said the new mausoleum will adopt a pentagonal design, symbolising strength, unity, and collective purpose.

The monument will stand alongside the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, which was built in 1995 with a hexagonal design, creating a historical and cultural landmark honouring two generations of the Odinga family.

According to the design, the two mausoleums will be positioned about eight metres apart and connected by a landscaped walkway, allowing visitors to move easily between the two sites.

At the centre of the new mausoleum will be five steps leading down to the grave, with the number five intentionally incorporated throughout the architectural concept to reinforce the symbolism behind the structure.

The project also includes accommodation for visiting researchers, allowing scholars studying Kenya's political history and the Odinga family's legacy to stay on site while conducting research and documentation.

Architects said visitor comfort was a key consideration, with the redesigned layout expected to accommodate the museum's regular flow of more than 1,000 visitors each week while improving accessibility and movement around the compound.

Beyond constructing the new mausoleum, the project will also restore and modernise the existing Jaramogi Mausoleum after three decades.

Plans include extensive landscaping, new directional signage, two entrance gate facades marking both the original and new access points, and a circular pathway inspired by the layout of a traditional Luo homestead.

The pathway will allow visitors to first pay their respects at Jaramogi's mausoleum before proceeding to Raila's.

Some existing structures will be demolished to create space for construction.

Once completed, the memorial site is expected to serve as a permanent centre for remembrance, education, and cultural preservation.

The state-backed project is valued at Sh30 million.

NMK formally initiated procurement under Tender No. NMK/T/03/RAO/MAUS/2025-2026, inviting bids from eligible and qualified contractors to undertake the dual-purpose development at the family's ancestral home in Bondo, Siaya County.

"The National Museums of Kenya invites bids from eligible, reputable and qualified contractors to participate in the tender for the Construction of Proposed Raila Odinga Mausoleum and Renovation of Jaramogi Mausoleum," the tender notice read in part.

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will spearhead the construction, with the works expected to be completed within two months after the government concludes surveying the site.