By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, August 12 ,2026 - The Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo, Siaya County, has been closed to the public for three months as construction and renovation works begin at the historic site where Kenya's first Vice President is buried.
The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) announced that the mausoleum was closed on July 20, 2026, and will remain inaccessible to visitors until October 30, 2026, as construction works take place at the site.
NMK has advised members of the public and tourists not to visit the mausoleum during the closure period, saying access will resume once the construction works are completed.
The closure coincides with the start of work on the proposed Raila Odinga Mausoleum, which is being constructed next to the existing Jaramogi mausoleum at Kang'o ka Jaramogi in Bondo.
The development follows the formal handover of the project site by the Odinga family to the government on July 20, marking the transition of the project from planning and design into implementation. The National Museums of Kenya is overseeing the development.
The new memorial will honour former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was buried at the family home in Bondo following his death earlier this year.
The government had earlier committed to constructing a permanent memorial at the site, with NMK subsequently inviting contractors to bid for the construction of the Raila Odinga Mausoleum and alterations to the existing Jaramogi Mausoleum.
The tender documents published by NMK show that the project covers both the construction of the proposed Raila Odinga Mausoleum and alterations to the existing Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum.
The project therefore represents more than the construction of a new burial site. It is also expected to reshape the historic Kang'o ka Jaramogi compound into a larger memorial and heritage destination centred on the legacy of the two prominent Kenyan political figures.
The Raila mausoleum's architectural design features a circular central structure, surrounding green spaces and pedestrian pathways. Earlier plans indicated that the new facility would incorporate spaces intended to preserve and showcase Raila's political and public-service legacy.
The government has previously linked the memorial to Raila's contribution to Kenya's political development, including his role in the struggle for multiparty democracy, constitutional reform and the development of the 2010 Constitution.
The project also places the site within Kenya's broader heritage landscape.
For decades, Kang'o ka Jaramogi has attracted visitors interested in the history of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya's first Vice President and one of the country's most influential independence-era political figures.
The addition of Raila's memorial is expected to further increase the site's historical and tourism significance.
The construction process has moved relatively quickly in recent months.
In June, NMK invited qualified contractors to participate in the tender for the project, with the initial tender documents putting the estimated cost of the Raila mausoleum project at KSh30 million.
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By July 20, the project had moved to the implementation stage, with Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya confirming that the Kenya Defence Forces would spearhead construction based on designs unveiled by NMK.
The government said the mausoleum was expected to be completed within approximately two months.
The simultaneous closure and renovation of the Jaramogi mausoleum means visitors will temporarily lose access to an important historical site as the government develops the wider memorial complex.
The decision also signals an attempt to preserve the existing structure while creating a separate space dedicated to Raila.
The distinction is important because the two mausoleums represent different generations of Kenya's political history.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was a central figure in the country's independence movement and became Kenya's first Vice President after independence. His political career shaped some of the earliest debates over the country's political direction.
His son Raila went on to become one of Kenya's most influential opposition leaders and served as the country's second Prime Minister under the 2008–2013 coalition government.
The two figures consequently occupy different but connected chapters in Kenya's political history.
The government is now effectively bringing those chapters together at one heritage site.
For residents of Bondo and Siaya County, the development could also have implications beyond remembrance.
A properly developed memorial site could become a destination for domestic tourism, school visits, historical research and cultural activities, potentially creating opportunities for local businesses around accommodation, transport, hospitality and other tourism services.
The closure, however, means those visiting the existing mausoleum will have to wait until the works are completed.
For now, the gates of the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum remain closed as construction crews begin work on a new chapter of the site.
When the compound reopens in October, visitors are expected to find not only a renovated historical mausoleum dedicated to Jaramogi, but also a new memorial taking shape next to it—creating a physical link between the political legacy of a father and the long public life of his son.