Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Thursday joined the world in mourning Mogadishu Mayor Omar Osman, who succumbed to Al-Shabaab suicide attack, a week later.
Mayor Omar, a strong advocate of anti-extremism, succumbed to injuries abroad, days after he was airlifted following a suicide attack in his office block.
Abdinur Mohamed Ahmed, President Mohammed Farmaajo's Spokesman, said the mayor's death would unite Somali's n the fight against the jihadists.
"We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the Mogadishu mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman, and we share our grief regarding this painful death with the entire Somali public," he said in a statement.
In a statement, Sonko said Mayor Omar was committed to restoring peace in war-torn Somalia, adding that Mogadishu was working closely with Nairobi on several bilateral relations.
"Received with sadness the death of the Mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman, who has succumbed to injuries inflicted on him during a terror attack in his office last week."
"Mayor Osman was a close friend who was determined to restore peace in Mogadishu and Somalia in general. Before his death Osman was working closely with my administration to improve bilateral ties between Mogadishu and Nairobi," he said.
The Mayor's son, Mohamed Omar, said that he had lost a father and went on to pray that 'God grants him the highest rank in paradise'.
"Today the people of Mogadishu lose their mayor; but I lost my Father. May Allah Grant him the highest rank of Paradise," he said in his tribute.
A female suicide bomber attacked the Mayor's office last week, killing over seven people instantly. Dozens of others including Osman, were rushed abroad for treatment.
Apparently, security sources said, the attack targeted United Nations representative in Somalia, James Swan, who was in the office a couple of minutes before the attack.