Raila anniversary: Kang'o ka Jaramogi emerges as a fortress of knowledge and history

A rear view of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum which is about 95 percent complete ahead of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s memorial set for October 15, 2026, at Kang’o Kajaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County. [Daniel Ogendo, Standard]

At Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, history is taking a new physical form. The ancestral home that witnessed the political life of Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and later became closely associated with his son, former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, is undergoing a major transformation ahead of Raila’s first anniversary.

The home is slowly evolving into a memorial and heritage site, with two generations of the Odinga family’s political history brought together through mausoleums, photographs, artworks, landscaping and other features expected to tell the story of Kenya’s political journey.

At the centre of the transformation is the new mausoleum being constructed for Raila next to that of his father, Jaramogi.

The project, undertaken by the government in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya and with the Ministry of Defence overseeing construction, is nearing completion ahead of its formal unveiling next week. The National Museums of Kenya has confirmed that the project also includes alterations to the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, underlining the heritage importance of the site.

The government has allocated Sh30 million for the Raila mausoleum, with construction beginning in July after the site was handed over to government engineers.

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the project was more than 98 per cent complete.

The new structure has been designed as more than a resting place. From outside, the building cuts an imposing figure, clad in stone with a high triangular roof, brown pillars and decorative grilles. Inside, an elegant corridor finished in marble has walls adorned with framed historical photographs and information displays. A striking geometric stained-glass window adds to the architectural design.

At the centre of the memorial is the marble tomb, surrounded by artwork and other features intended to connect the structure to Raila’s public life. A prominent bronze-gold emblem of the former Prime Minister, showing him in his familiar hat, smiling and raising his fist, is among the striking features inside the memorial.

The new mausoleum stands about eight metres from the existing mausoleum of Jaramogi, with the two structures linked by a walkway. The arrangement creates a physical connection between the histories of father and son and gives visitors an opportunity to move between the two memorials as they trace different chapters of Kenya’s political history.

The project has incorporated specialised architectural works, landscaping, heritage elements, security infrastructure and finishing. The mausoleum has also undergone redesign during its development, evolving into a more prominent contemporary memorial while retaining its connection with the heritage of Kang’o ka Jaramogi.

Some of the history expected to be preserved at the site goes beyond the Odinga family. The transformation comes as the family prepares to mark one year since Raila’s death on October 15, 2025.

Raila, who served as Kenya’s Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013, was buried at Kang’o ka Jaramogi beside his father after a State-supported funeral attended by national leaders. He was 80 at the time of his death.

On Friday, the committee overseeing the first anniversary commemorations, led by Raila’s widow Ida Odinga, inspected the progress of construction and provided an update on the events planned to remember the former Prime Minister.

Speaking after the inspection, Ida described the near completion of the construction as an important moment in the history of Kang’o ka Jaramogi.

“Today is a very special day in the history of Kang’o ka Jaramogi because today it comes to almost the end of the construction work that has been going on in this compound,” she said.

She said the next major event at the site would be the formal handover and official unveiling of the mausoleum on October 7. The ceremony will be attended by President William Ruto and other dignitaries, including guests from outside Kenya.

A worker carries a paving slab as preparations for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s memorial heighten at Kang’o Kajaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, on October 1, 2026. [Daniel Ogendo, Standard]

Mama Ida, however, noted that the October 7 event would not accommodate everyone who may wish to attend because of the limited space within the compound. The main public commemoration will take place on October 15 at Migwena Grounds, where Kenyans will gather to mark the first anniversary of Raila’s death.

The preparations have also included efforts to ensure that people unable to access the mausoleum during the restricted ceremony can still follow the proceedings.

Josphat Nanok, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of the President, who chairs the government committee overseeing the works, said the major construction had been completed, with only finishing touches remaining.

He said Kang’o ka Jaramogi is part of Kenya’s national heritage and is now under the protection of the National Museums of Kenya. “This place where we are standing is part of our national heritage and it’s now been listed under the protection of the National Museums of Kenya,” Nanok said.

He said President Ruto had tasked the government committee with overseeing the construction of Raila’s mausoleum as well as improvements to the wider compound, including the mausoleum of Jaramogi.

Nanok said most of the works had now been delivered, with teams undertaking final adjustments before the formal dedication of the new mausoleum. He said the government was also providing infrastructure to benefit people living around the memorial.

A dedicated borehole will serve the compound, while another borehole is expected to be drilled within a month to serve the surrounding community. The October 7 unveiling will be conducted as a State ceremony led by President Ruto together with the family and will include military honours.

Nanok said the ceremony had been designed in line with traditions used during ceremonies for former heads of State and government, taking into account Raila’s former position as Prime Minister and the honours accorded to him during his burial.

The ceremony will be televised live and is expected to last between two and three hours. Because the compound cannot accommodate a very large crowd, public viewing screens will be installed at selected locations.

Otiende Amollo, the vice-chairman of the anniversary committee and Rarieda MP, clarified that the October 7 unveiling would be an invite-only event because of the limited space and the military nature of the ceremony.

He said screens would be placed at Nyamira School, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University and in Bondo town for members of the public wishing to follow the proceedings.

A worker lays and adjusts paving slabs at Kang’o Kajaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, on October 1, 2026, as preparations for the memorial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga intensify. [Daniel Ogendo, Standard]

From October 8, the mausoleum will be open to the public, allowing visitors to see Raila’s resting place before the main anniversary ceremony.The committee has also planned a candle-lighting ceremony for October 14 at Kang’o ka Jaramogi.

Otiende said the official candle-lighting event would begin at 6pm East African Time and would be led by Mama Ida and the Raila family.

The family-led event forms part of a wider programme of remembrance activities planned around the first anniversary. The National Steering Committee has said the commemorations will be people-centred and national in character, while October has also been designated by ODM as a month of remembrance for its founding leader.

Mama Ida urged Kenyans to participate in remembering Raila in whatever way they could, including lighting candles from their homes.She also thanked the military personnel involved in the construction, saying the speed at which the project had been completed was remarkable.“The work you’ve done in record time of three months is unbelievable, but you’ve done it,” she said.

Away from construction, the anniversary preparations have also taken an environmental dimension. At Kang’o ka Jaramogi, members of the Green Army planted 81 trees in honour of Raila.

Florence Awino, deputy Green Army monitor for the Nyanza region, said the number was chosen to correspond with the age at which Raila died. “Here in Kang’o ka Jaramogi we came here to plant 81 trees for late Raila Odinga’s commemoration, who died at the age of 81 trees, and that’s what we have planted,” she said.

Awino said the initiative would continue beyond the anniversary, with plans to plant another tree together with the President during the October 15 commemoration.

The tree-planting exercise adds an environmental element to a site whose history is also connected to Raila’s public advocacy on environmental conservation.

The family is also preparing for the large public gathering at Migwena Grounds, a place that held particular significance for Raila.

Isaac Omondi Oginga, Raila’s younger brother and son of Jaramogi and his last wife Susan Agik, said the preparations were progressing well and that the family was ready to receive mourners and visitors. He said Migwena was important to Raila because he regularly attended end-of-year games there.

“The first anniversary of late Raila Odinga is ongoing well. The mausoleum is going on well. We have been working day and night, so we welcome everyone on board because Raila was loved by everybody,” Omondi said.