Celebrated TV host Hodan Nalayeh was on Friday evening killed following an attack at Hotel As-Asey in Kismayo, Jubbaland authorities have confirmed.
Ms Nalayeh was killed alongside with her husband Farid Jama, with another TV reporter also dying in the explosion orchastrated by the Al-Shabaab militants.
The TV anchor who founded Integrated TV, an online platform which reports positive achievements of Somalia, left Canada few years ago for her native Somalia.
"Inspirational TV personality who returned from Canada to report positive stories about Somalia, Hodan Nalayeh, killed in Al-Shabaab complex attack in Kismayo - Minister @JustAwHirsi confirms. Hodan was the founder of @IntegrationTV that reports on local and diaspora," VOA journalist Harun Maruf confirmed.
The tragic death has attracted condemnation from Somali community in Kenya with Majority Leader Aden Duale terming it as uncouth and uncalled for.
"Innalilahi wainaillahim raajun We've lost a brilliant and promising member of our society in a bomb blast at a hotel in Kismayo, Somalia. I have known her as one person who always tells the world the positive side of Somalia through her online TV," he said in his tribute.
"Heartbreaking news from Kismayo. Absolutely gutted to hear the killing of Hodan Naleyh and her husband Farid & many other innocent ppl. Strongly condemn these acts of terror. We must defeat hatred and violence with unity, love, kindness and compassion," added Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan.
Similar tributes were echoed by former Lagdera MP and deputy speaker Farah Maalim who lauded her for the sacrifices she had made for the war torn Horn of Africa nation.
"Shocked by the death of Hodan Naleye. She was in a unique class of technocrats who held on to the hope of stable Somalia. She sacrificed her life and that of her husband for motherland. Her sacrifice shall not be in vain. Somalia is rising &reaching for the skies. AS on backfoot!" he said.
Heavy gunfire exchanges were witnessed in Kismayo for the last 13 hours with AMISOM forces from KDF engaging the army of Al-Shabaab that had sneaked into the strategic town which was liberated in 2012.