Hargeisa, Somaliland – President of Somaliland Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro has conveyed a heartfelt message of condolence to the people of Kenya following the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, describing him as an irreplaceable champion of democracy and justice on the African continent.
In a statement released from Hargeisa, President Irro extended his “deepest condolences to the family, government, and people of the Republic of Kenya,” calling Odinga’s death a loss that transcends national borders.
He hailed the late Kenyan opposition icon as “a towering African statesman and visionary reformer whose unwavering pursuit of justice, democracy, and unity uplifted his nation and inspired the continent.” Irro spoke not only as a political leader but as someone who had long admired Odinga’s resilience and moral clarity.
The Somaliland president also reflected on the personal and diplomatic ties between Odinga and the self-declared republic, recalling him as “a principled friend of Somaliland — a leader of wisdom and integrity who deeply understood and respected the aspirations and legitimate rights of its people.”
Irro said Odinga’s voice stood among the strongest in Africa’s long struggle for accountable leadership and good governance. “Africa has lost one of its most steadfast voices for democracy,” he lamented, adding that his legacy would live on in the countless citizens and leaders he inspired.
He concluded by affirming Somaliland’s solidarity with Kenya during what he described as “a moment of profound national grief,” praying for strength for the Odinga family and the millions of Kenyans mourning one of the most consequential political figures in their history.