Ruto hands over Raila Odinga mausoleum to National Museums as historic site prepares to open to public

President William Ruto has formally handed over the mausoleum of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, to the National Museums of Kenya.

President William Ruto has led the dedication and formal handover of Raila Odinga’s mausoleum at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, marking a significant moment in the preservation of one of Kenya’s most politically important families.

The mausoleum, constructed by the Kenya Defence Forces, has been placed under the management of the National Museums of Kenya, which will oversee the preservation and operation of the site.

The facility is expected to function as a heritage and education centre, documenting the lives, political careers and legacies of Raila Odinga and his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice-President.

The handover ceremony took place on Wednesday, October 7, and was attended by invited guests. The event included full military honours, reflecting the national significance attached to the Odinga family and its place in Kenya’s history.

Members of the public were advised not to travel to the mausoleum for the ceremony because of space and security restrictions. The proceedings were instead broadcast, with public viewing screens installed in Bondo to allow residents and other members of the public to follow the event.

Mausoleum opens to the public

The site is scheduled to open to members of the public on Thursday, October 8.

Its opening will provide visitors with an opportunity to learn more about the two generations of the Odinga family whose political careers became deeply intertwined with Kenya’s post-independence history.

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was a central figure in the country’s independence-era politics and became Kenya’s first Vice-President. His son, Raila Odinga, went on to become one of the country’s most influential political figures, serving as Prime Minister and playing a major role in Kenya’s opposition politics for decades.

The decision to place the mausoleum under the National Museums of Kenya is intended to give the site a formal heritage role rather than leaving it solely as a private memorial.

It also places the legacy of the Odingas within the wider framework of Kenya’s national historical institutions.

The mausoleum at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi will therefore serve not only as the final resting place of Raila and Jaramogi, but also as a site through which future generations can engage with their political lives and Kenya’s wider journey since independence.

The handover comes as preparations conclude for the mausoleum’s first public opening, with October 8 set to mark the beginning of regular public access to the historic site.

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