On October 7, 2026, Jaoko Odinga addressed guests at the Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum commissioning ceremony in Bondo, Siaya County. He delivered a personal statement on behalf of his father, ODM Party Leader and Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga Odinga, who was absent due to hospitalization. Jaoko disclosed that his father's medical team had placed him on a strict recuperation regimen.
According to Jaoko, Oburu's doctors had barred him from physically demanding engagements. Jaoko read the statement while observing the directives from his doctors to rest and limit his physical engagements. He assured the guests that despite taking the forced rest, his father's spirit, mind, and heart were fully present. Oburu remained acutely aware of the significance of the occasion and reaffirmed his commitment to national unity.
The event was a significant milestone in honoring the legacy of the late former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga's father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and Raila himself, who died on October 15, 2025. The mausoleum, constructed by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), serves as a state memorial. President William Ruto officially commissioned and dedicated the Raila Odinga Mausoleum at the Bondo homestead on the same day.
Oburu Oginga had traveled to the United Kingdom in September 2026 for routine medical check-ups linked to his advancing age. He was subsequently admitted to Nairobi Hospital. His secretariat, family members, and ODM officials issued statements on October 6, 2026, explicitly refuting claims circulating on social media that the senator had died.
Jaoko closed the statement with a tribute to the late former Prime Minister, saying, "I say long live the spirit of Baba. Long live the legacy of Baba. And long live power." This was part of the proceedings at the historic Kang'o ka Jaramogi homestead, where the mausoleum was unveiled.
The site holds the remains of Raila and his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, two of Kenya's most consequential political figures. The event was livestreamed on President Ruto's Facebook page, and footage from the broadcast was widely shared across social media platforms.
The article was published on Tuko.co.ke by Patricia Tonui, an entertainment editor with experience working in digital media. She highlighted the key developments in Oburu Oginga's health and his son Jaoko's address at the mausoleum commissioning ceremony.
Key points
- Oburu Oginga was hospitalized and put on forced rest by his doctors.
- Jaoko Odinga read a statement on behalf of his father at the Raila Odinga Mausoleum commissioning.
- The mausoleum serves as a state memorial honoring the legacy of Raila Odinga and his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
