Raila Odinga tells off envoys, vows to go on with weekly protests

Azimio la Umoja Leader Raila Odinga and Martha Karua joined friends and relatives of Mama Grace Akech Onyango in her funeral that took place in Gem Siaya County. [Emmanuel Wanson, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga has told foreign diplomats to stop meddling in Kenya's internal affairs.

He insists that the weekly mass protests he is leading will continue until the issues they have raised are addressed.

Raila intensified his criticisms against President William Ruto's administration and repeated claims that there were attempts by the regime to assassinate him.

A defiant Raila scoffed at remarks by some of Kenya's international partners in regards to the mass protests and rallied his supporters to turn up on Monday for what he described as "the mother of all protests".

Speaking during the burial of the country's first female MP Grace Onyango in Gem, Siaya County, the ODM leader poked holes in the push by the international community to back last year's presidential election outcome.

Raila and his allies told off diplomats whom they claimed are attempting to interfere with their quest to strengthen the country's democracy by seeking answers to questions they have raised over the country's electoral system.

"I want to address the international community, and I want to tell them that democracy is democracy and must be measured by the same standards."

He particularly singled out US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman for allegedly endorsing last year's presidential results by stating that the polls were transparent.

"I don't know which country she was talking about."

He was accompanied by Narc leader Martha Karua, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi, Governors Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Ochillo Ayacko (Migori), Anyang Nyong'o (Kisumu) and James Orengo (Siaya).