Ruto Unveils Plans for Raila Odinga Memorial Library and Museum in Siaya

President William Ruto has announced plans to establish a Raila Odinga Memorial Library, Museum and Research Centre at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Siaya County.

The proposed facility will form the next phase of development at the ancestral site, following the commissioning of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo on Wednesday. Ruto said the centre would preserve materials documenting Raila Odinga’s life, political career and contribution to Kenya’s democratic development. It would also provide a space for students, researchers and visitors to study the country’s political history.

The President said the project should serve as more than a memorial by becoming a centre for scholarship and public engagement. He said it could attract visitors from Kenya and other parts of Africa interested in understanding the political history associated with Raila and the Odinga family.

The planned library and museum will be located at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi, where the mausoleum was recently completed. The site also contains the burial place of Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President.

Ruto also linked the proposed centre to economic opportunities in Siaya County. He said developing the site as a heritage destination could increase tourism, create employment and support businesses in surrounding communities.

The mausoleum includes landscaped grounds, improved access routes, signage and other features intended to improve the site for visitors. Construction began in July after the Odinga family formally handed over the ancestral grounds to the government.

The Ministry of Defence oversaw the construction of the mausoleum, reflecting the government’s involvement in developing the site as a national memorial. During the ceremony, Ruto also announced that the Raila Odinga International Stadium at Talanta City in Nairobi had been completed and would soon be officially launched.

The 60,000-seat stadium is expected to become one of Kenya’s major sporting facilities and host events with an international and continental profile. The two projects will associate Raila’s name with both a national heritage site and a major sports facility. The developments form part of the government’s efforts to preserve historical sites and recognise figures who have played significant roles in Kenya’s political history.