• Speaking on Thursday, the Senator said Raila was there in his official capacity as leader of Opposition in Kenya.
• He said that the former Prime Minister was invited to the event last month, when the UK High Commissioner Neil Wigan paid him a visit.
Image: FILE
Vihiga Senator Geoffrey Osotsi now says that Azimio leader Raila Odinga did not attend the State Dinner on Tuesday, as a guest of President William Ruto.
According to Osotsi, Raila was there as a friend of the Royal family.
Speaking on Thursday, the Senator said Raila was there in his official capacity as leader of the Opposition in Kenya.
He said that the former Prime Minister was invited to the event last month when the UK High Commissioner Neil Wigan visited him.
"You remember very well that Raila Odinga was visited by the new Ambassador of the UK to Kenya Neil Wigan on October 12, and that is the time the ambassador officially invited Raila Odinga to that event to meet the King.
"So, Raila Odinga was not in State House courtesy of the invitation of President William Ruto or any of these UDA people. He was there as a guest of the King, leader of the Opposition and a friend of the Royal family," Osotsi said.
The Vihiga senator called out leaders allied to President William Ruto for making a big deal out of Raila's visit to State House.
He insisted that the State House belongs to all Kenyans and that every Kenyan has a right to visit the place.
"I think it very simple for those in Kenya Kwanza side to overly be excited about Raila Odinga's visit to State House. First of all State House is not the UDA office, it is not Ruto's home. State House is the property of Kenya and it belongs to all Kenyans, not an individual. Every Kenyan has a right to go to State House."
There has been confusion in the political circles over Raila's presence at the State Banquet where the President hosted the visiting Royals—King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Kenyans from different quotas have interpreted the Raila's visit differently. It is the first State House visit for Raila since Ruto took over power last year.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Wednesday said that Raila's presence at State House during the State banquet should not be taken out of context.
He said some leaders of certain ranks are eligible to be invited when influential leaders visit the country.
Kalonzo compared Raila's State House presence with his when he attended a dinner during the Africa Climate Action Summit.
"At the level of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, I can tell you some of us are on a standing list that we would be invited in the event of an important guest like his Majesty King Charles. It should not be seen beyond that," he said.