The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has officially commenced construction of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, the ancestral home of the Odinga family in Bondo, Siaya County.

The project, valued at approximately KSh 30 million, was handed over to the government by the Odinga family on Monday, July 20, 2026. The Kenya Defence Forces is leading the construction under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence and in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). 

The mausoleum will be built adjacent to the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, where Kenya’s first Vice President and Raila’s father was laid to rest in 1994. The initiative also includes extensive upgrades and renovations to the Jaramogi Mausoleum, museum, and surrounding heritage facilities. 

Officials have set an ambitious deadline, with completion targeted for **September 30, 2026**, ahead of the first anniversary of Raila Odinga’s death on October 15. The accelerated timeline is being managed by KDF to ensure both speed and quality. 

The proposed memorial will feature a circular central structure, archival galleries, exhibition spaces, a landscaped reflection courtyard, pedestrian walkways, visitor amenities, and modern security installations. Architectural elements incorporate symbolic designs, including five-sided motifs referencing Raila’s political philosophy and the “Pentagon” coalition era. The site is expected to serve as a national heritage centre for research, education, and reflection on Kenya’s democratic journey. 

Raila Amolo Odinga, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, died on October 15, 2025, at the age of 80 while undergoing treatment in Kochi, India. He was accorded a state funeral and buried at Kang’o ka Jaramogi beside his father on October 19, 2025. 

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and other government officials have described the mausoleum as a fitting tribute to Odinga’s immense contribution to Kenya’s multiparty democracy, constitutional reforms, and national unity. Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, welcomed the government’s support, noting that the project stands as a symbol of national cohesion. 

The development is part of broader efforts to preserve Kenya’s political history and transform Kang’o ka Jaramogi into a significant heritage tourism and civic education site.