Foreign Affairs CS Monica Juma has defended the new international profile given to ODM leader Raila Odinga as a senior representative of the state.

Juma explained that the new profile given to Odinga by President Uhuru Kenyatta was befitting as he is a former Prime Minister.

The Foreign Affairs CS denied the suggestion that Odinga’s visits were taking away duties that have traditionally been left to her office and that of Deputy President William Ruto.

“The stature of a former Prime Minister in any country is well guaranteed. That’s why he is receiving those courtesies as provided for internationally,” Juma said.

Delegate

She added that the President Kenyatta was allowed to delegate who to deliver the goodwill message to various foreign leaders.

The ODM leader recently delivered the President’s message to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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In May, President Kenyatta similarly picked Odinga to be the official state representative at the funeral of South African anti-Apartheid activist Winnie Mandela in South Africa.

The former Prime Minister was also picked as special envoy in the South Sudanese peace process and was critical in brokering the deal between President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar.