Raila Odinga family hands over site for Ksh.30M mausoleum

The Sh30 million project will be undertaken by the Kenya Defence Forces and is expected to be complete by the end of September, ahead of the first anniversary of Odinga's death.

Nine months after his passing, the plan to immortalise the veteran opposition leader gained momentum as his family formally handed over the ground where the facility will stand. The family says the mausoleum will embody Odinga's ideals, particularly his lifelong fight for democracy.

His son, Raila Odinga Junior, said the former premier's true legacy lay not in personal glory but in what he built for the country.

"What he built was not a monument to himself but rather a Constitution. It was peace chosen again and again. The test of real leadership is not what a man wins for himself but what he leaves standing after he is gone, and by that test Jakom built more than most," he said.

Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Oginga thanked the national government for taking up the project, noting it was not obligated to do so.

"I want to thank the government of Kenya. We do not take it for granted. This is not their duty. They could have decided to say no, do it as a family," he said.

The mausoleum's design draws heavily on the political milestones that defined Odinga's career, including the strategic partnerships and coalitions he was known for.

Architect Simon Malachi said the structure had adopted a five-sided form symbolic of the late leader.

"We have adopted the five-sided figure which was synonymous with Raila, and that was the Pentagon. The Pentagon is an aspect of the clenched fist which represents strength, unity, solidarity and collective purpose," he said.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said the project would stand as a mark of national cohesion.

"Most importantly, this project will be a symbol of strength and national unity through recognition of Kenya's diverse political history," she said.

Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili said Odinga's contribution to the country was immense, adding that his son was well placed to carry forward his father's mantle.

"Raila has done a lot in this country, and because we have seen what Junior is doing, he is also able to step into his father's shoes," he said.

The construction is set to be completed by the end of September, before the first anniversary of Odinga's death, with the government assuring that quality will not be compromised by the speed of execution.