Why Raila’s Grave Will Not be Filled with Soil: Engineer Explains the Special Design

Kang’o Ka Jaramong is a hub of intense activity as preparations conclude for the interment of Raila Odinga this Sunday, October 19.

Citizen TV’s Sam Gituku is camping at the site, which has drawn many people keen to follow the proceedings. Overseeing the intricate construction of the final resting place for 'Baba' is Engineer Maurice Akech, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Construction Authority.

Mr Akech explained that professionals and engineers are working together with all stakeholders to ensure the site is ready. They have been working tirelessly through the night.

The 24-Hour Race

The team is making good progress, taking advantage of the time available. The official ceremony is scheduled to open tomorrow, giving them more than 24 hours to complete the critical preparatory work.

The construction is receiving constant, hands-on attention.

"This is a construction that you must keep your eyes on throughout until it is complete. We have to watch and monitor every other second,” Akech revealed.

Part of the complex preparation involved removing a tree that previously stood on the site. This was done, possibly, on the nightof Thursday.

Backfilling of the ground is also a delicate process being managed in stages. This staged approach is necessary to prevent the soil from causing instability or pressure against the supporting wall.

The backfilling process was started and left halfway, scheduled to continue throughout the day.

Why There Will Be No Soil

The final covering procedure is specialised. Engineer Akech confirmed that, unlike traditional burials, the soil will generally not be returned to the hole. This special method is employed once the internal tiling and plaster work are completed.

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“This is normally a special one. We will not return the soil inside the hole. Once you've done the tiling and the plaster work inside. Apart from the symbolic soil that has to be put, you know, soil to soil, and the way they say, but after that, of course, we'll put the proper formwork,” he explained.

Following the symbolic placement of soil, the engineers will use proper formwork, including materials like ‘mabati’ and strong reinforcement, such as the D12S. The space will then be covered and allowed to dry.

A Tomb in the Making

Immediately after the final ceremony, the construction team will pour a slab in situ, meaning it is done in place, to cover the site. This will allow the place to be secured.

A proper finishing detail will be applied on top at a much later stage. Mr Akech confirmed that the finished resting place is designed to be permanent and substantial.

“We will cover it, let it dry, and then later we'll do a finishing detail on top, much later. But after the final ceremony tomorrow, we'll just do a slab in situ. It's done in place so that we can cover the place.”

Eventually, the grave site will resemble that of his father, Jaramogi Odinga.

"So eventually it will look like the Jaramogi’s tomb or other grave site. It's like a tomb basically."