Raila Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo Set for October 15 Unveiling

The construction of Raila Odinga’s mausoleum in Bondo has entered a key phase ahead of its planned unveiling on 15 October, the first anniversary of his death.

Ambassador Ida Odinga, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UNEP, and her son, Raila Odinga Junior, met Culture Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir on Tuesday to review progress on the memorial. The meeting focused on construction milestones and preparations for the unveiling.

Raila Junior said the family remains closely involved in the project, which is being treated as both a family undertaking and a national memorial. The mausoleum is being built at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Siaya County under the stewardship of the Kenya Defence Forces, with the National Museums of Kenya overseeing its heritage aspects. Ground was broken in July, marking the start of construction.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has said the military was tasked with completing the project within a tight timeframe while maintaining its architectural and cultural integrity. The facility will include a memorial hall, cultural galleries and exhibition spaces documenting Raila’s political career and his role in Kenya’s democratic development. It will be located next to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, which honours Raila’s father and Kenya’s first Vice-President.

The two mausoleums will form a shared memorial site reflecting the history of the Odinga family. Renovations are also being carried out at the older mausoleum to improve its presentation and preserve it for future generations.

The National Museums of Kenya is involved in the project through its board, represented at Tuesday’s meeting by chairperson Edwin Abonyo. Its involvement reflects plans for the site to function as a national heritage centre.

Officials have said the site will host educational programmes and cultural exhibitions, making it available to scholars and the wider public. Raila Odinga’s political career included decades of involvement in the struggle for multiparty democracy and constitutional reform, as well as work on infrastructure development. 

The memorial is intended to preserve his legacy and document his place in Kenya’s political history. With the October unveiling approaching, construction and consultations are continuing as the government and the Odinga family work towards completing the project on schedule.