A close ally to President Uhuru Kenyatta has said that the head of state has in recent weeks allocated sensitive functions to various leaders other than his principal assistant - Deputy President William Ruto.

In President Kenyatta’s first term, Ruto conducted various international assignments on behalf of President Kenyatta.

Shortly after the two took office, President Kenyatta tasked the DP with the role of criss-crossing various African countries in a shuttle diplomacy mission to campaign against the ICC.

Ruto would later represent the President in various international conferences including summits meant for heads of state.

However, in the past three months, Ruto has not travelled abroad with most of the functions that he previously performed being designated to ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Winnie Mandela funeral

Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe confirmed that President Kenyatta had sent Odinga to be official state representative at South African heroine Winnie Mandela’s funeral.

Apart from holding talks with various South African leaders, Odinga was received by Ambassador Jean Kamau - Kenya's High Commissioner in South Africa.

Message to Riek Machar

Murathe further confirmed that the ODM leader had acted on instructions of the President when he visited South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar last month.

Odinga delivered a peace message to Machar in South Africa where he had been staying in exile.

Message to Kiir

After holding talks with Machar, Odinga flew to Juba when he held further talks with President Kiir.

Murathe confirmed that Odinga was critical in peace deal struck between Machar and Kiir and which is expected to end civil war in South Sudan.

Visit to India

The former Prime Minister is currently in India where he has been treated as a state guest, including delivering a goodwill message on behalf of President Kenyatta.

On Tuesday, Odinga met with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi where they spoke about co-operation of the two countries in trade and investment in the health sector.

AU heads of state summit

Last week, President Kenyatta cancelled his attendance to the African Union heads of state summit in Mauritania as he “was held back by urgent State matters.”

While the President has traditionally delegated Ruto to deal with such high level matters, he instead deployed Foreign Affairs Cabinet secretary Monica Juma to lead Kenya’s delegation to the summit.

However, Kenyatta’s ally Murathe defended the President’s recent trend, adding that the head of state has the sole prerogative of assigning duties to whoever is deemed fit.

“It is the prerogative of the President to decide who will represent this country at whatever forum. Right now Raila is in India. We are a big family and people have different roles where they fit in this government,” the Jubilee Vice Chairman stated.