The race to complete the late Raila Odinga’s mausoleum ahead of the October anniversary of his death has gained fresh momentum after his family met Culture Principal Secretary Ummi Bashir for an update on the project.
Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNEP Ida Odinga and her son Raila Odinga Junior held discussions with Bashir Tuesday on the progress of the memorial being constructed at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County.
According to Raila Junior, the meeting focused on the status of the project and preparations ahead of its expected completion in October.
“I joined Amb. Ida Betty Odinga, Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNEP, for a meeting with Principal Secretary for Culture, Arts and Heritage, Ms Ummi Bashir, on updates on the progress of Baba’s Mausoleum,” he said.
“We discussed the status of the project and preparations ahead of its expected completion in October,” he added.
The meeting comes as the government moves to complete the memorial ahead of the first anniversary of Raila’s death on October 15.
The mausoleum is being constructed at the Odinga family home, where Raila was buried last year.
The project is being implemented by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), with the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) involved in the heritage component.
The government broke ground for the project on July 20, marking the transition from planning and design to construction.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said KDF had been tasked with delivering the project within a tight timeline while maintaining the required standards.
The facility is expected to include a main memorial hall, cultural galleries, exhibition spaces and a national monument documenting Raila’s political journey and contribution to Kenya’s democratic development.
The mausoleum is being built next to the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum, which serves as the final resting place of Raila’s father and Kenya’s first Vice President.
The wider project also includes alterations and improvements to the existing Jaramogi mausoleum, according to documents published by the NMK.
The project is intended to preserve the political and historical legacy of the former Prime Minister, who died in India on October 15, 2025, aged 80.
The latest meeting involving Ida, Raila Junior and PS Bashir comes as preparations gather pace for the completion and eventual unveiling of the memorial.
NMK board chairperson Edwin Abonyo also attended the meeting.
The Odinga family has remained involved in consultations surrounding the project, with Raila Junior previously participating in discussions on the architectural design and development of the memorial.
The government has said the facility will serve not only as a burial site but also as a national heritage and educational centre documenting Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s political evolution, constitutional reforms and democratic development.
