Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga hosted the President of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, at his Karen residence on Tuesday for a high-level meeting and farewell dinner.
The encounter underscores a notable divergence from the official stance of the Kenyan government regarding Somaliland’s status.
In a statement released following the meeting, President Abdirahman expressed gratitude to Odinga and described him as an “esteemed African statesman.”
He specifically acknowledged Odinga’s support for Somaliland’s long-standing pursuit of international recognition: “Your unwavering support for Somaliland’s aspiration to claim its rightful place among the community of nations is deeply appreciated,” Abdirahman stated.
He further praised Odinga’s “leadership and steadfast commitment to Africa’s unity and development.”
A brief statement shared by Mr. Odinga said he and his wife, Ida Odinga, welcomed President Irro and his delegation members, including cabinet officials and staff from Somaliland’s liaison office in Kenya.
Raila Odinga said in a post on LinkedIn, “Mama Ida and I had the pleasure of hosting the President of Somaliland, H.E. Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi (Ciro), at our residence. He was accompanied by members of his cabinet and officials from Somaliland’s liaison office in Kenya.”
Neither side has indicated whether Tuesday’s meeting will be followed by further engagements.
In the meantime, Somaliland continues to chart its own path quietly but deliberately.
Contrasting Government Position
The meeting occurred just days after Somaliland inaugurated a diplomatic liaison office in Nairobi on Thursday, May 29th.
This move directly challenged the Kenyan government’s publicly stated position.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs swiftly issued a rejoinder, firmly rejecting the newly opened “Mission” office and reaffirming Kenya’s recognition of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The Ministry… reaffirmed its initial stance and confirmed its disapproval of the opening of the Republic of Somaliland’s Mission office, asserting it lacked official endorsement,” an official statement clarified.
Kenya had previously insisted that the liaison office could not be upgraded to a diplomatic mission level.
Somaliland Persists in Recognition Bid
While Kenya has not formally recognized Somaliland as an independent state, it has allowed the Republic of Somaliland to maintain a liaison office in Nairobi, one of a handful it operates abroad. The presence of Somaliland’s leadership in such a setting suggests continued efforts to build political and economic bridges in the region.
“It’s not about formal recognition right now,” said a senior East African diplomat familiar with recent Somaliland engagements. “It’s about visibility and forming the relationships that matter.”
Despite Kenya’s objections and lack of endorsement, Somaliland proceeded with the inauguration of its Nairobi office, viewing it as a significant step in its decades-long campaign for international recognition.
Somaliland restored independence in 1991 but has not gained widespread diplomatic recognition.
Complex Diplomatic Landscape
The situation presents a complex diplomatic picture. While the Kenyan government maintains its formal support for a unified Somalia, President William Ruto also recently met with Somaliland’s President Abdirahman at State House in Nairobi.
This, coupled with Odinga’s high-profile hosting and expressions of support for Somaliland’s recognition ambitions, highlights the nuanced and sometimes contradictory interactions surrounding the Somaliland issue within Kenya’s political sphere.
The opening of the liaison office and subsequent meetings with opposition and government figures signal Somaliland’s persistent efforts to bolster its international standing, even as Kenyan official policy remains unchanged.
Mr. Irro, who came to power in December last year following a contested election, has signaled that strengthening Somaliland’s international ties is a top priority. Nairobi, a diplomatic hub for East Africa, has been a key stop.
Though details of Tuesday’s discussions remain undisclosed, regional analysts believe issues of trade, regional security, and intergovernmental cooperation were likely on the table.
“Somaliland knows it won’t get recognition overnight,” said Dr. Amina Abdi, a political analyst at the University of Nairobi. “But this kind of quiet diplomacy, meeting people like Raila Odinga, who still holds influence in Kenya and across Africa, keeps the conversation alive.”
Odinga’s advocacy for Somaliland
President Abdirahman described Odinga as “an esteemed statesman and one of the dearest friends of Somaliland.”
The optics of such an encounter have never gone unnoticed.
While the engagement was warmly received in Hargeisa, it will likely reignite discomfort among elements of the Somali political establishment that remain steadfast in their pursuit of a unified Somalia.
This simmering disapproval surfaced pointedly in February when Mogadishu withheld its vote during Odinga’s African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship bid, reportedly citing his open support for Somaliland as a key grievance.
Ironically, Odinga’s influence in Hargeisa may have contributed to Mogadishu abandoning its own candidate, Somalia’s ex-Foreign Minister, paving the way for the Djiboutian candidate’s eventual win.
Still, the diplomatic cost for Odinga was evident. Odinga’s advocacy for Somaliland is not new.
In a 2020 reception dinner for then-President Muse Bihi at Nairobi’s Villa Rosa Kempinski, he remarked that “the AU needs to wake up to the reality that it is not going to be possible again to bring these two countries together and recognize them as two separate countries.”
He added, “I have talked in the UN, and I have talked in the London Chatham House. I said, and I have no regret, and I will say it again, that Somaliland is a reality the world has to live with.”
At the time, Odinga held the role of the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure.
Nonetheless, his comments reverberated far beyond his official portfolio.
“Somaliland will continue to progress without depending on Somalia,” he argued.
He also called for the African Union to address Somaliland’s case in the same spirit it approached the Western Sahara issue with Morocco.
His relationship with Somaliland predates the current administration.
In April 2022, after a fire devastated Hargeisa’s main market, Odinga tweeted, “The scenes coming out of Hargeisa’s open market inferno, that is the mainstay of their economy, are gut-wrenching… You will rise again!”
Earlier, in 2013, Odinga met then-President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Sillanyo in Heathrow Airport’s VIP lounge.
By 2018, he was already engaging Somaliland leaders at the Investment Conference in Nairobi, initially slated to be the event’s chief guest before he pulled out last minute and met the delegation privately.
This latest show of camaraderie with Somaliland underscores Odinga’s enduring clout in Hargeisa but also reveals the delicate tightrope that diplomacy in the Horn of Africa demands.
