Ruto leads nation in honouring Raila at Bondo mausoleum dedication
The president’s tribute to the late opposition leader marks a moment of rare political unity as Kenya prepares for a defining electoral year
By Grace Wanja
President William Ruto yesterday led the nation in honouring the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga at the dedication of the Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo, Siaya County, describing him as a once-in-a-generation leader whose courage and sacrifice helped shape the Kenyan republic.
“Baba will be remembered as a patriot, pan-Africanist and statesman who stood firm through adversity in the pursuit of freedom, justice and a more democratic Kenya,” Ruto said at the ceremony, which drew dignitaries from across the political spectrum.
The dedication of the mausoleum cements Raila’s place in the country’s national memory — a recognition of his central role in the struggles for multiparty democracy, devolution and constitutional reform that defined Kenya’s political evolution over four decades. Ruto acknowledged that Raila’s contribution to democratic institutions and national unity would continue to inspire generations tasked with guarding the inheritance he helped secure.
The ceremony takes on added weight as Kenya enters the final stretch before the August 2027 general election — a contest that will be fought, in part, over the democratic legacy Raila spent his life building.
Some of the moments as captured in pictures
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