President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Irro) of the Republic of Somaliland has extended heartfelt condolences to the family, government, and people of Kenya following the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 80.
In a solemn statement, President Irro hailed Odinga as “a towering African statesman and visionary reformer whose unwavering pursuit of justice, democracy, and unity uplifted his nation and inspired the continent.”
The President also remembered Odinga 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.”
President Irro said Africa had lost “one of its most steadfast voices for democracy and good governance,” and conveyed Somaliland’s solidarity with the people of Kenya during this “moment of profound loss.”
Odinga’s death, confirmed by his office and reported by Reuters, came after the veteran leader suffered a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment in Kochi, India.
A defining figure in Kenyan politics for more than four decades, Raila Odinga led the struggle for multiparty democracy, helped usher in Kenya’s 1991 democratic reforms, and played a central role in shaping the 2010 constitution.
Though he never captured the presidency despite five attempts, his influence transcended electoral politics. Odinga’s leadership during Kenya’s most turbulent years — including the aftermath of the 2007 election violence, which left more than 1,300 people dead — solidified his place as a symbol of resilience and reform in African democracy.
Across the continent, tributes have poured in from heads of state and political leaders honoring a man many viewed as “the conscience of the Kenyan republic.”
In Somaliland, where Odinga was seen as a rare African leader who privately supported Hargeisa’s right to self-determination, his death resonates deeply.
His passing, President Irro said, “reminds Africa that true leadership is measured not by power, but by principle.”
