Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will oversee the construction of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo as part of a national heritage initiative to honour the late statesman's contribution to democracy, constitutional reforms and national unity.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony in Bondo, Siaya County, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said the Ministry of Defence had been tasked with managing the project, leveraging KDF's engineering expertise and project management capacity to deliver what she described as a world-class memorial befitting Raila Odinga's national stature.
"The project that we are groundbreaking for today, the Raila Odinga Mausoleum, is a national heritage initiative to honour the Right Honourable Raila Amolo Odinga, whose leadership, democratic advocacy and public service have profoundly shaped Kenya's political devolution," Tuya said.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya,her Cooperatives counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya,other leaders and members of the Odinga family during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo on July 20,2026.PHOTO/Oburu.
She said the project demonstrates the government's commitment to preserving the legacy of the late opposition leader, noting that Raila had made significant contributions to national unity, constitutional reforms and Kenya's social progress.
According to Tuya, the Ministry of Defence will provide engineering oversight and coordinate multiple government agencies throughout the construction process.
"The Ministry of Defence is undertaking project management for this mausoleum, leveraging on the proven capacity, discipline and meticulous infrastructure delivery by our Kenya Defence Forces, including engineering oversight and multi-agency coordination," she said.
The first phase of the project will feature a national monument documenting Raila's political journey and contributions, a public learning and archival centre preserving Kenya's democratic history, and a cultural and tourism landmark expected to strengthen the heritage profile of Kisumu and the wider region.
Other planned facilities include a memorial hall, archival galleries, exhibition spaces, a landscaped reflection courtyard, visitor amenities, security installations and the upgrading of existing infrastructure.
Construction is expected to take two months, with Tuya assuring the Odinga family that speed would not compromise quality.
"I want to assure the Jaramogi family that indeed quality shall not be compromised by the speed that we have to put into this project," she said.
She added that the government would work with relevant agencies to improve supporting infrastructure, including water supply, electricity and telecommunications, to support the memorial once completed.
Tuya said the mausoleum is expected to become a symbol of national unity while promoting cultural tourism and economic activity in the region.
"We are going to make sure that we have a dignified, world-class mausoleum befitting the person of the late Right Honourable Odinga's national stature," she said, adding that the project would also serve as "a symbol of strength and national unity through recognition of Kenya's diverse political history."
The Defence CS also urged Kenyans to reject divisive politics and embrace national cohesion, saying the country must remain united despite political differences.
"I want to encourage Kenyans to be of one purpose, to be unified from all corners of this country. We can disagree without causing havoc and violence across the country," she said.
She further expressed confidence in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), saying recent by-elections had demonstrated the institution's integrity and would help foster peaceful elections ahead.