Construction of Raila Odinga Mausoleum Begins as KDF Takes Charge of Project

Construction of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum has officially begun at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) leading the project.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said the mausoleum is expected to be completed within two months. The project was formally handed over on 20 July during an official ceremony at the site. 

The National Museums of Kenya presented the architectural design, with Chief Architect Sanso Malaki explaining that the new mausoleum will feature a pentagonal layout instead of the hexagonal design used for the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, which was built in 1995. He said the pentagonal shape represents strength, unity and collective purpose.

The Raila Odinga Mausoleum will stand eight metres from the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum. A walkway will connect the two structures, allowing visitors to move easily between them and reflecting the historical and family link between the two leaders.

At the centre of the mausoleum, five descending steps will lead to the grave, with the number five incorporated throughout the design. A four-metre space will separate the grave from the surrounding walls to allow visitors to move around the site. The interior will include small exhibition spaces and a QR code system providing digital information about Raila Odinga's life and public career.

The development will also include accommodation for visiting researchers, a conference centre and an amphitheatre to support research, cultural activities and public events. These facilities are intended to make the site a place for learning as well as remembrance.

The master plan has been designed to accommodate more than 1,000 visitors each week. It includes landscaped grounds, improved signage and two entrance gates to make the site easier to access. The existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum will also be restored as part of the project, updating the structure after three decades.

A circular pathway will link the two mausoleums and is designed to reflect the layout of a traditional Luo homestead. The route will guide visitors to the Jaramogi mausoleum before continuing to the Raila mausoleum.

The project places the two mausoleums side by side, highlighting the Odinga family's place in Kenya's political and cultural history. The inclusion of research and educational facilities is intended to preserve historical records while providing space for study and public engagement.

Once completed, the Raila Odinga Mausoleum will serve as a permanent memorial to Raila Odinga and complement the existing memorial to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.