President William Ruto on Wednesday unveiled and dedicated the Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo, Siaya County, declaring that the former Prime Minister’s legacy should be carried forward through policy, development and national unity.
The mausoleum, which will serve as a national memorial to Raila’s contribution to Kenya’s democratic and political history, is the first phase of a wider project expected to include the Raila Memorial Library, Museum and Research Centre.
Ruto said the centre would give young Kenyans and visitors from across Africa an opportunity to learn about Raila’s life, struggles and contribution to public service.
The President described Raila as a once-in-a-generation leader whose fight for freedom, justice and equitable development helped shape modern Kenya.
“Jakom’s lifelong cause can be captured in two words: Equitable transformation. He believed no person and no region should be left behind. Not because of where they live. Not because of their tribe. Not because of how they voted,” Ruto said.
He credited Raila with helping expand Kenya’s democratic space through decades of political struggle.
“Raila was a fighter. He pushed hard. He pushed hard to extend the boundaries of our democracy,” he said.
Raila died on October 15, 2025 and was buried at Kang’o ka Jaramogi alongside his father, Kenya’s first Vice President Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. The new mausoleum was constructed by the Ministry of Defence with technical support from the National Museums of Kenya.
Ruto said the government would honour Raila not only through memorials, but by pursuing programmes he associated with equitable development, affordable housing, devolution, universal healthcare, social protection and infrastructure.
He cited the Affordable Housing Programme, saying 17,164 homes are under development in Kibra, including 4,446 units in Soweto B, while 303,910 units are at different stages of implementation nationally.
“What Raila began in Kibra is now a national programme,” Ruto said.
He also pointed to the expansion of Inua Jamii, which he said supports 1.7 million elderly people and persons with disabilities, and the Social Health Authority, under which 33.1 million Kenyans have registered.
Ruto said county allocations had risen from Sh370 billion in 2022 to Sh428 billion, arguing that the increase reflected Raila’s long-running push to take resources and decision-making closer to communities.
The President also linked Raila’s development vision to ongoing road, railway and agricultural projects, including plans to extend the Standard Gauge Railway through Narok to Kisumu, Malaba and Uganda.
“Our duty is not merely to remember Raila. Our duty is to finish his work,” Ruto said.
“We build in stone to remember him. We build in policy and action to honour him.”
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi remembered Raila as a leader who could put national interests ahead of personal and political differences.
“Raila knew when to advance, when to retreat, when to reconcile, when to negotiate and believed that, at the end of the day, country comes first,” Mudavadi said.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said Raila’s legacy was firmly rooted in inclusion, devolution, equitable distribution of resources and greater representation of women.
Raila’s widow, Ida Odinga, urged Kenyans to embrace tolerance in politics and avoid turning political disagreement into permanent hostility.
“The late Odinga had no enemies. His enemies were temporary and before you knew it, they were friends again,” she said.
Raila’s children Rosemary, Winnie and Junior also called for national unity and tolerance.
Junior said the mausoleum should be viewed as more than a physical structure, describing it as a place where future generations would reflect on Raila’s sacrifices, principles and contribution to Kenya.
Rosemary praised the Kenya Defence Forces and other teams involved in completing the memorial, while Winnie urged Kenyans to respect differing political opinions and beliefs.
The ceremony came eight days before the first anniversary of Raila’s death.
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