Top Azimio la Umoja politicians, led by former prime minister Raila Odinga, denounced Western diplomats for allegedly applying different standards to the ongoing political gridlock in the nation.

PHOTO | COURTESY Raila condemns foreign envoys over double standards

Odinga accused the diplomats, particularly the American ambassador, of turning a blind eye even as the government openly plotted to assassinate him and other opposition leaders due to their pursuit of electoral fairness and the rising cost of living.

Speaking to mourners who had gathered to pay tribute to the first woman elected to parliament, the late Grace Akech Onyango, in the Gem constituency.

Together with other lawmakers and governors, he was flanked by Martha Karua, Opiyo Wandayi, the minority leader in the national house, James Orengo, and Oburu Odinga, a senator from Siaya.

The leader of Azimio la Umoja claimed that it was reckless of the diplomats to place democracy below development.

PHOTO | COURTESY Odinga promised "mother of all demos" on Monday

"Democracy must be evaluated using the same criteria everywhere. Development cannot be prioritized at the expense of democracy", according to Raila, who said that efforts to murder him would not cause him to give up on the idea of a just Kenya.

Martha Karua, the leader of Narc Kenya, claimed that their protests have always been peaceful and that only the arrival of the police and hired goons cause chaos.

She joined Raila in promising Kenyans that on Monday, they would hold the most remarkable demonstration in the city centre and that no intimidation would cause them to abandon their plans.

The deputy president revealed the plot to kill Raila, the younger brother of Siaya senator Oburu Odinga, and promised to deal with the former premier once and for all.

He lamented that the donor community was aware of the purported assassination plan but had decided to remain silent.

Oburu forewarned the administration not to assassinate because it would change the nation.

Opiyo Wandayi, the minority leader in the National Assembly, referred to it as absurd that the US ambassador swiftly denounced the assaults on the media by the police and other thugs while remaining silent over the attempts on Odinga and other Azimio la Umoja leaders.

Kenyans, according to Wandayi, won't take the US ambassador seriously until she publicly and without pretence condemns the atrocities committed against Kenyans and their leaders.

Grace Onyango was remembered as a woman idol who helped make political opportunities for women possible.

PHOTO | COURTESY Azimio leader Raila Odinga to lead demos on Monday in Nairobi

She was initially elected to the Kisumu City Council in 1964. In 1965, she was elected mayor; a year later, she was elected to the parliament.

She passed away aged 96.