Ruto unveils Raila Mausoleum as leaders celebrate veteran politician's enduring legacy

By  Rushdie Oudia

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

The late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was on Wednesday accorded military honours as President William Ruto unveiled his Mausoleum at Kang’o ka Jaramogi.

The President and other leaders who spoke at the ceremony described the Mausoleum as a monument that would provide not only an opportunity to learn about Odinga’s life and legacy, but also a place of hope and an enduring connection with the former Prime Minister.

From the church service to the military honours, the dedication of the structure that houses Odinga’s grave was meticulously planned, reflecting the stature of a man whose life was intertwined with Kenya’s long struggle for democracy.

After his arrival, President Ruto attended a church service presided over by Rev Prof David Kodia, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bondo, assisted by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Chaplaincy.

During the dedication of the Mausoleum, the KDF mounted a guard along the route leading to the structure.

The ceremony was followed by the blessing of the Kang’o ka Jaramogi gate as a place of remembrance and a permanent symbol of hope and renewal.

This was followed by the Walk of Remembrance, a procession to the Mausoleum involving the clergy, members of the Odinga family and President Ruto. KDF trumpeters played Odinga’s favourite song, Jamaica Farewell, as the procession made its way to his final resting place.

The doors of the Mausoleum were then opened, unveiling the final resting place of the former Prime Minister, moments after Dr Ruto and Mama Ida Odinga officially unveiled the plaque.

The two also laid wreaths on Odinga’s grave.

“Here at Kang’o ka Jaramogi, his place of rest, the Republic has raised this Mausoleum in his honour as the father and guardian of our democracy. May this memorial endure as a solemn testament to his life and service, and to the ideals of democracy, equitable development through devolution and national unity for which he gave his all.

“May it remind all who come here of the path he helped illuminate. May generations yet to be born remember his sacrifice, follow the light of his example, and guard the democratic inheritance he helped secure,” said Dr Ruto.

According to the President, the Mausoleum would serve as an international shrine of hope where citizens could come to pay homage to a national hero.

“It is Pentagon in shape, which tells his political history, which I was privileged to share with him,” said Dr Ruto.

In his citation, President Ruto said the death of the former Premier had brought forth an unprecedented outpouring of grief and cast a long shadow of sorrow across the nation and far beyond its borders.

According to him, Kenya had lost a leader extraordinaire, a man of uncommon courage, a patriot, a Pan-Africanist and a statesman who gave his life to the pursuit of freedom, justice and a Kenya with plenty within its borders.

“For decades, he walked at the centre of Kenya’s long journey towards expanding her democratic space. Through years of darkness, detention, sacrifice and adversity, he did not yield. He became a light for those who sought a freer nation, illuminating a path towards a more just, democratic and prosperous Kenya,” said Dr Ruto.

To the President, Odinga was a once-in-a-generation leader whose vision transcended politics and whose life became woven into the fabric of the Republic.

On his anniversary, Dr Ruto said the country also remembered the man behind the public life: the lifelong companionship he shared with his wife, Ida, his love for his children and extended family, and the home that sustained him through the long arc of his public service.

Present were Siaya Governor James Orengo and his counterparts Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori), Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi) and Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), among other leaders from the region and across the country.

Family members present included Mama Ida, Raila Odinga Jr, Winnie Odinga, Rosemary Odinga, Ruth Odinga, Akinyi Wenwa and Jaoko Oburu, alongside members of the wider Jaramogi family.

Mama Ida conveyed the apologies of Dr Oburu Oginga, whom she said was unwell.

She spoke of the difficult journey the Odinga family had endured since Odinga’s death.

“We have celebrated together, mourned and disagreed through all these seasons but remained united. I have known Raila for more than 50 years, so I know him well, but we too had our ups and downs.

“That little girl he kept on referring to and kept leaving behind in the Jamaica Farewell song was me, Ida Odinga, who kept waiting every time he went into detention,” said Mama Ida.

Winnie observed that Jaramogi’s grave bore the inscription “Freedom has a price”, while Raila’s grave carries the words “Democracy is the price of freedom.”

She said Odinga had been a strong advocate of freedom of expression.

Winnie recalled how her family endured years of detention and absence, yet Odinga found a way of shaking hands with people who had once tormented him.

“It is in this spirit that on 15th October we have invited different people who share different experiences with him.

“As a family, we call for a political ceasefire on October 15. It is not an invitation to determine who owns the crowd or who shouts loudest,” said Winnie.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.