Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum Closed Until October 30

The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo, Siaya County, has been closed to the public for three months to allow construction and rehabilitation works at the historic site.

The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) said the facility was closed on July 20, 2026, and will remain inaccessible to visitors until October 30. The museum authority advised members of the public and tourists not to visit during the closure.

The closure coincides with construction of a separate mausoleum for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, the Odinga family home in Bondo where Jaramogi Oginga Odinga is buried.

The Raila Odinga memorial is being constructed next to the existing Jaramogi mausoleum. The project site was formally handed over to the government by the Odinga family on July 20, marking the start of implementation.

The wider works also include alterations and rehabilitation of the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum. The National Museums of Kenya had earlier advertised a tender covering both construction of the proposed Raila memorial and alterations to the existing facility.

The government has allocated KSh30 million for construction of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum and rehabilitation of the existing Jaramogi facility, according to reports on the project.

Construction is being undertaken with the Kenya Defence Forces involved in the works, while the National Museums of Kenya is overseeing the development of the memorial site. The project is expected to be completed within the current construction programme.

The proposed Raila mausoleum will sit alongside the existing structure, which serves as both a burial site and museum dedicated to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first Vice-President and one of the leading figures in the country’s independence struggle.

The existing mausoleum was opened in 1995 and contains historical material connected to Jaramogi’s political career and Kenya’s political history. The site also includes exhibits associated with Luo cultural heritage.

Plans for the new memorial extend beyond the burial structure. The proposed development includes facilities such as a research centre, library, digital archives and an amphitheatre, according to project details reported following the site handover.

The project initially focused on rehabilitating and renovating the existing Jaramogi mausoleum. Principal Secretary for Culture, Arts and Heritage Ummi Bashir said discussions on improving the facility began in 2024, before the plans changed following Raila Odinga’s death.

The former Prime Minister was buried at Kang’o ka Jaramogi in October 2025. His family subsequently handed over the site to the government for construction of the new memorial, with the existing Jaramogi facility included in the wider works.

For visitors, access to the Jaramogi mausoleum will remain suspended until October 30, according to the National Museums of Kenya notice. The authority has apologised for the temporary closure and asked the public to avoid travelling to the site during the construction period.