NAIROBI— In a quiet yet symbolically potent meeting, former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga hosted Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi, known as Ciro, at his home in Nairobi on Tuesday.
The visit was low-key. A brief statement shared by Mr Odinga said he and his wife, Ida Odinga, welcomed President Ciro and members of his delegation, which included cabinet officials and staff from Somaliland’s liaison office in Kenya.
There was no public agenda, no official communique, and no press conference. Still, the meeting has stirred diplomatic interest.
While Kenya has not formally recognised Somaliland as an independent state, it has allowed the self-declared republic 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.”
Mr Ciro, who came to power earlier this year following a contested election, has signalled 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.”
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the Somali central government. It has operated with its own currency, government, and institutions for more than three decades, though it remains unrecognised by the international community.
Kenya has maintained a delicate balance in its dealings with both Somalia and Somaliland. Diplomatic relations with Mogadishu have been strained at times, particularly over maritime boundaries and cross-border security.
For Mr Odinga, a long-standing figure in Kenyan and African politics, the visit was not his first brush with regional diplomacy. While he currently holds no official government post, he has been tapped in the past for continental roles, including serving as the African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure.
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.
