SIAYA, Kenya – The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will construct the Raila Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo after the former Prime Minister’s family officially handed over the project site to the government.
The handover ceremony, held on Monday, July 20, at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Siaya County, marked the transition of the project from the planning phase to implementation. The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) will oversee the development of the memorial.
The mausoleum will be built next to the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, where Kenya’s first Vice-President and Raila’s father was buried in 1994. The project also includes renovating the Jaramogi mausoleum and museum, which preserves key aspects of Kenya’s political and cultural history.
Raila Odinga died on October 15, 2025, aged 80, while undergoing treatment in Kochi, India. He was buried four days later at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, in line with his wishes, beside his mother, Mary Ajuma Odinga.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Culture Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir said the project was originally intended to renovate Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s mausoleum rather than build a new memorial.
She recalled meeting Raila in 2024 on a flight from Germany following a cultural event attended alongside President William Ruto. During their conversation, Raila expressed interest in upgrading his father’s mausoleum and later sent an architect and engineer to prepare the initial designs.
“Initially, it was the revamping, renovation and rehabilitation of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga mausoleum. That is what we were planning for,” Bashir said.
However, Raila’s death prompted the government to expand the project to include a separate mausoleum in his honour.
Bashir said President William Ruto directed that the project be completed within a strict timeline, leading the Head of Public Service to assign the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Principal Secretary and KDF to take over construction.
“The Head of Public Service has expressly directed that the Ministry of Defence and KDF take over this project because of the time limit that we have,” she said.
She expressed confidence that KDF would complete the works by September 30, ahead of the first anniversary of Raila’s death on October 15.
The proposed mausoleum will feature a circular central structure surrounded by landscaped gardens, pedestrian walkways and reflection spaces. Plans also include a library, digital archives, research facilities and an amphitheatre to preserve Raila’s political legacy and educate future generations.
The design was reviewed in June by Raila Odinga Junior, officials from the Ministry of Culture, the National Museums of Kenya and engineers from the Ministry of Works.
Kang’o ka Jaramogi remains one of Kenya’s most significant political heritage sites. It is the final resting place of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Mary Ajuma Odinga, Raila Odinga, Fidel Castro Odinga and other members of the Odinga family.
Ahead of the handover, Raila Odinga Junior said he had consulted his uncle, Dr Oburu Oginga, on family matters and preparations for the project, adding that he continues to seek his guidance as the family’s elder.
The National Museums of Kenya had earlier invited bids for the construction of Raila’s mausoleum and the renovation of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum. With the site now officially handed over, construction is expected to begin immediately as the government races to complete the project within the set deadline.