Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday played host to Somaliland President Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi (Ciro) at his Nairobi residence, in a meeting that signaled continued engagement between Kenya and the self-declared republic.
Odinga, in a brief statement shared online, said he and his wife, Mama Ida Odinga, warmly welcomed the visiting head of state, who was accompanied by members of his cabinet and senior officials from Somaliland’s liaison office in Kenya.
While specific details of the discussions were not disclosed, the meeting highlights ongoing diplomatic overtures by Somaliland, which continues to push for international recognition and regional cooperation.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, is not officially recognized by any country but has maintained informal diplomatic and economic relations with several African nations, including Kenya. It operates a liaison office in Nairobi, a sign of growing bilateral engagement despite Somalia’s objections.
President Ciro, elected in 2025, has made regional diplomacy a key pillar of his administration, aiming to deepen Somaliland’s trade, security, and investment partnerships across East Africa.
