President William Ruto has unveiled and officially commissioned the mausoleum of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, a year after his death.
The ceremony brought together Raila’s widow Mama Ida Odinga, members of the Odinga family, religious leaders, government officials and other dignitaries to honour the former Prime Minister’s decades-long political career and contribution to Kenya’s democratic struggle.
Ruto described Raila as a patriot, Pan-Africanist and statesman whose political journey was closely linked to Kenya’s fight for democracy, justice and greater political freedoms. The President said the new mausoleum would serve not only as Raila’s final resting place but also as a lasting monument to his contribution to the country.
The mausoleum, constructed by the Kenya Defence Forces, stands next to the existing mausoleum of Raila’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice President and a prominent figure in the country’s independence struggle. The two structures bring together the political histories of father and son at the family’s ancestral home.
The site offers visitors a glimpse into the history and political legacy of the wider Jaramogi Oginga Odinga family, with the memorial complex expected to preserve and interpret the family’s contribution to Kenya’s political development.
The completed mausoleum has now been handed over to the National Museums of Kenya, which will oversee its conservation, documentation and preservation as part of the country’s national heritage.
The ceremony also featured military honours, a walk of remembrance and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by President Ruto and Mama Ida Odinga.
The unveiling comes as Kenya continues to commemorate Raila’s life and political legacy ahead of the first anniversary of his death on October 15, 2025.
