Remembering Baba: Raila mausoleum to be handed over next Wednesday

The Raila Amolo Odinga Mausoleum in Bondo, Kenya, is nearly complete and scheduled for a formal handover to the State on October 7, 2023, ahead of a restricted dedication ceremony led by President William Ruto. The complex, which houses the resting places of Kenya's first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, and his son, Raila Odinga, has been listed as a national heritage site by the National Museums of Kenya.

The Ministry of Defence took over the construction in July, with the project taking approximately three months to complete. The October 7 handover and State dedication will be an invitation-only event featuring military honors, with the public advised not to attend in person. Instead, the event will be broadcast live on national television, and public viewing screens will be set up at various locations.

The mausoleum will open to the public on October 8, with a family-led candlelight vigil on October 14 and a public memorial service on October 15 at Migwena Cultural and Sports Ground in Bondo.

Brief written by urgent.news from KBC's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.