Opposition leader Raila Odinga has landed a major appointment as a result of his March 9 handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
According to a report by The Star, the government has sent a circular to all foreign missions directing them to treat Raila as a senior government representative whenever he visits them.
Ambassadors and Heads of missions have also been instructed to accord Raila as the presidents representative and to personally welcome him and his entourage at airports.
[caption caption="Raila Odinga with his wife Idah Odinga with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi"]
[/caption]
The ODM leader is also reportedly accorded diplomatic security and official embassy cars to drive him around.
His expenses are also paid for by the missions through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On arrival to New Delhi, India during his latest tour, Odinga was received by Kenya’s High Commissioner to India Florence Weche and her Deputy Belinda Omino.
In April, he attended South Africa's icon Winnie Mandela’s burial where he represented President Uhuru and was accorded the requisite state courtesy by the South African Government and Kenyan High Commission.
During his May visit to the UK, Raila is said to have been chauffeured in official embassy vehicles and was accorded state protocol a privilege he last enjoyed when he was the Prime Minister.
In his diplomatic tour to South Sudan, the NASA leader was treated to an official reception at the airport by ambassador Cleland Leshore.
According to state protocol, only visiting Presidents and some top government officials are received by ambassadors in foreign states.
Other government officials are welcomed by staff working at the mission without any specific protocol.
Efforts to reach out to Odinga's team were futile as calls to his Communications Director Dennis Onyango went unanswered.
[caption caption="Raila Odinga with South Africa deputy president H.E David Mabuza at winnie Mandela's funeral"]
[/caption]
