The Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum at Kang'o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, is 98 percent complete and will be formally handed over to the state on Wednesday, Oct. 7, ahead of a restricted dedication ceremony led by President William Ruto, officials said Friday.

The mausoleum, which will serve as the final resting place of both Kenya's first vice president, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his son, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has been listed for protection by the National Museums of Kenya as part of the country's national heritage. During a joint inspection of the grounds, Raila's widow, Ida Odinga, Deputy Chief of Staff in the President's Office Josephat Nanok, Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Oluga Ouma and Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo confirmed that the Oct. 7 handover and state dedication will be an invitation-only event featuring full military honours. The state plans to broadcast the ceremony live on national television and set up public viewing screens at Nyamira School, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, and in Bondo town itself, for those unable to attend in person. Public access to the mausoleum will open the following day, Thursday, Oct. 8.

Speaking at the site, Ida Odinga confirmed the timeline directly: "We are going to have another important occasion here on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. That occasion will be the complete handing over of this place and official opening of the mausoleum." She cautioned, however, that the compound may not be able to accommodate everyone wishing to attend in person.

A fast-tracked, military-led build

The Ministry of Defence took over construction of the mausoleum in July, after President Ruto directed that the Cabinet Secretary for Defence, the ministry's Principal Secretary and the Kenya Defence Forces assume responsibility for the project to meet a tight deadline. Defence Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru said as recently as Sept. 30 that the project was more than 95 percent complete, telling reporters: "In just two months, the project has progressed significantly and is now over 95 per cent complete." Military engineers and National Museums of Kenya technical teams completed the bulk of the remaining work over the following two days, bringing the project to its current 98 percent completion. The Odinga family formally handed over the historic site to the KDF in July, with family patriarch Oburu Oginga and Raila Odinga Junior, recently installed as the cultural head of the Odinga family, present at that handover ceremony.

Part of wider commemorative plans

Alongside the mausoleum, the government and the Odinga family have announced parallel memorial initiatives, including the establishment of a Democracy Institute bearing Raila Odinga's name at the University of Nairobi, and additional commemorative projects planned at the Kenya School of Government.