Inside the artistic impression for the late Raila Odinga's mausoleum

For more than three decades, Kan'go ka Jaramogi has been synonymous with the legacy of Kenya's first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Schoolchildren, researchers, tourists and political followers have made the journey to the historic homestead to honour the nationalist whose vision helped shape Kenya's independence and multiparty democracy.

Soon, another monument will rise just metres away.

On Monday, the government officially handed over the site for the construction of the proposed Raila Odinga Mausoleum, unveiling a design intended to preserve the legacy of one of Kenya's most influential political figures while transforming Kang'o Ka Jaramogi into a world-class heritage, research and cultural tourism centre.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya said the project will be implemented by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) after completion of the site survey, with construction expected to take about two months.

As the architectural drawings were displayed before invited guests, National Museums of Kenya Chief Architect Sanso Malaki explained that every aspect of the design had been carefully thought through.

Unlike the hexagonal Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Mausoleum completed in 1995, the new structure will adopt a pentagonal form, symbolising strength, unity and collective purpose.

The symbolism continues at the heart of the building, where five descending steps will lead to the grave. Around it, a four-metre buffer space will allow mourners and visitors to walk comfortably while paying their respects.

Separated by about eight metres, the two mausoleums will be linked by a landscaped walkway, physically connecting two generations of one of Kenya's most influential political families.

Yet the project stretches far beyond architecture.

The master plan recreates the layout of a traditional Luo homestead. Visitors will enter through replicated gate façades before following a circular pathway that naturally leads them first to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's mausoleum before proceeding to the proposed Raila Odinga Mausoleum.

Architects say the sequence mirrors Luo cultural traditions, where respect is first accorded to elders before younger generations.

Mini exhibitions built into the interior walls will chronicle Raila Odinga's life and political journey, while QR codes positioned throughout the building will allow visitors to access photographs, speeches, historical documents and other digital archives using their mobile phones.

The complex will also include accommodation for visiting researchers undertaking long-term historical documentation, as well as a conference facility and an amphitheatre to host public lectures, cultural performances, exhibitions and discussions on Kenya's political history.

Outside, landscaping will surround both mausoleums, while new signage and redesigned pathways are expected to improve movement through a site that already attracts more than 1,000 visitors every week.

Some existing structures within the compound will be demolished to create space for the new development, while the 30-year-old Jaramogi Mausoleum will undergo a facelift to restore and modernise its appearance.

As the designs were unveiled, Siaya Senator and Jaramogi's eldest son Oburu Oginga challenged planners to make the mausoleum more than a monumental structure. While welcoming the concept, he said he had expected a more modern design that embraces technology to preserve Raila Odinga's legacy.

He proposed the inclusion of audio-visual installations where visitors could watch and listen to Raila's speeches on democracy, governance, culture and national development, saying the site should become a living centre of learning rather than merely a burial place.

"Future generations should be able to understand Raila's contribution to Kenya's democratic struggle through interactive exhibitions and digital archives that bring history to life," said Oburu.

While responding to Oburu's concerns, the Architect said the unveiled plans represent only the first phase of the project and that additional interactive features could be incorporated as the heritage complex expands.

When complete, Kang'o Ka Jaramogi will become more than the resting place of a father and son. It will stand as a living museum where architecture, memory and history converge.