The mausoleum of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kang’o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo will be formally handed over and unveiled on Wednesday, October 7, in a restricted state ceremony.
Raila’s widow, Mama Ida Odinga, said the occasion would mark the completion of construction works at the family compound and bring together President William Ruto, other Kenyan dignitaries and invited guests from outside the country.
Speaking during an inspection of the mausoleum on Friday, Ida said the works were nearing completion after being undertaken over the past three months.
“Today is a very special day because we are almost at the end of the construction work that has been going on in this compound,” she said.
She said the October 7 event would be followed by a larger public commemoration on October 15, when Kenyans from across the country would be allowed to gather and pay tribute to the former Prime Minister.
Ida thanked the military for completing the construction works within a short period, describing the pace of the work as remarkable.
The October 7 ceremony will, however, not be open to the general public because of limited space at the mausoleum and the nature of the state ceremony.
Deputy Chief of Staff Josephat Nanok said the ceremony would be conducted with military honours and led by President Ruto together with the Odinga family.
“This will be a state ceremony, and it will be a military honours ceremony,” Nanok said, adding that the programme had been designed in line with ceremonies accorded to former heads of state and government.
Nanok said the mausoleum and surrounding facilities formed part of the country’s national heritage and had been placed under the protection of the National Museums of Kenya.
He said the government had also completed other works within the compound, including improvements to the museum dedicated to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and the new museum for Raila.
A dedicated borehole is also being put in place to serve the compound, while another is expected to be drilled within a month to serve the surrounding community, Nanok said.
Because of the limited space, members of the public have been advised not to travel to Kang’o Ka Jaramogi for the October 7 ceremony.
Instead, the government will provide live viewing screens at designated venues in Bondo town.
The ceremony is expected to take between two and three hours and will also be televised live.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, who outlined the programme following the inspection, stressed that October 7 should not be confused with the public commemoration planned for October 15.
He said the unveiling would be an invitation-only event, but the public would get an opportunity to visit the mausoleum from Thursday, October 8.
“October 7 is not the day to come here. It is a restricted, invitation-only ceremony because of the space and the nature of the military-led ceremony,” Otiende said.
He said members of the public who wished to witness the proceedings could do so from the designated viewing centres.
Otiende said the October 15 event would be the main public commemoration, where Kenyans would be free to gather and honour Raila.
The mausoleum is the final resting place of Raila and his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
The government has also announced other initiatives in Raila’s memory, including the establishment of a Democracy Institute in his name at the University of Nairobi.
