An aerial photograph taken at Kang'o Ka Jaramogi in Bondo has given Kenyans a clear view of the mausoleum built for the late former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga. The drone image, taken ahead of the site's official commissioning by President William Ruto, shows a complex that bears little resemblance to a typical rural burial ground. The mausoleum features a stately grey stone structure topped with a distinctive star-shaped red roof.
The mausoleum's design is pentagonal in shape, with four pillars at its corners and a wide staircase leading up to a solid wooden door. A network of cabro-paved walkways weaves through the lush compound, finished with black-and-white kerbs and interlocking blocks. The paths connect the main gate to the mausoleum and link to a smaller pavilion nearby via a concrete staircase.
Surrounding the paths are manicured lawns, flower beds, newly planted indigenous trees, and solar street lights. Along one edge of the compound, 45 tall flag poles stand in a single straight line, where the Kenyan national flag, the East African Community flag, and the African Union flag will fly permanently. The construction was carried out by the Kenya Defence Forces following a directive from President Ruto after Raila's burial.
Raila Odinga passed away on 15 October 2025 while receiving treatment in India and was laid to rest next to his mother, Mary Ajuma Odinga, in line with his final wishes. His father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya's first Vice President, who died in 1994, is also buried nearby. The site has since been handed over to the National Museums of Kenya and will function as a public monument.
Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya was among those granted access to the interior, sharing photos showing polished terrazzo floors and glass display cases holding Raila's personal effects. Historical photographs chronicling his decades-long push for democracy line the walls. The mausoleum's interior reflects Raila's significant contributions to Kenyan politics.
From the air, Kang'o Ka Jaramogi now bears comparison to Qunu in South Africa, where Nelson Mandela is buried, or Nkroful in Ghana, the resting place of Kwame Nkrumah. The mausoleum's design and features make it a fitting tribute to Raila Odinga's legacy. President William Ruto is set to officially commission the site.
The completed Raila Odinga Mausoleum at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in Bondo will be open to visitors, researchers, and anyone wishing to pay their respects. The site holds the remains of Raila and his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, two of Kenya’s most consequential political figures. The mausoleum's construction was completed in under 12 months.
Key points
- The mausoleum features a grey stone structure with a star-shaped red roof and 45 flag poles.
- The site was constructed by the Kenya Defence Forces and transformed into a national monument in under 12 months.
- The mausoleum will be open to the public as a national monument, managed by the National Museums of Kenya.
