Construction Begins on Sh30 million Raila Odinga Mausoleum at Kango Ka Jaramogi in Bondo

The construction of the proposed Raila Odinga Mausoleum has officially commenced after the Odinga family handed over the historic Kang’o ka Jaramogi site in Siaya County to the Kenya Defence Forces for implementation of the state-backed project.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held on Monday and attended by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, marked the transition of the project from planning to full construction—nearly nine months after the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Odinga, the long-serving Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, died of cardiac arrest on October 15, 2025, while receiving specialized treatment in India. He was 80.

The National Museums of Kenya has allocated Sh30 million for the mausoleum.

Oburu Oginga on Monday, July 20 formally transferred the ancestral grounds to the KDF in the presence of Raila Odinga Junior, who was recently installed as the cultural head of the Odinga family.

Tuya directed military engineers to complete the project within two months, assuring the family that the accelerated timeline would not compromise construction standards or the integrity of the memorial.

Raila Odinga Junior said the mausoleum would serve as a permanent repository of his father’s legacy and a place where future generations could learn about his contribution to Kenya’s political history.

“This mausoleum is not only a building, but a place where the story of Baba shall be told for generations to come,” he said. “Baba believed in this country, and he believed this country belongs to all of us.”

He added that the values his father championed—respect, humility and service—should continue to guide future generations.

Construction is expected to proceed immediately under KDF supervision as the site prepares to become one of Kenya’s newest national heritage landmarks.