Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has weighed in on the viral Forest Road video in which rogue boda boda riders were filmed harassing a female motorist.
Speaking in a rally at the Maua Stadium in Meru County on Thursday, March 10, the former Prime Minister condemned the act but also advised police to spare innocent riders.
Raila noted that he had witnessed the law enforcers mete out heavy punishment blanketly on all operators in the sector due to the misdeeds of a few individuals.
The Presidential hopeful further argued that the police should use their resources to track down the actual perpetrators while letting the innocent carry on with their work.
"Such an act must be condemned right? That perpetrator's act was horrific. But that should not be misconstrued as the actions of all boda boda riders. Some are noble people who do a good job of ferrying passengers.
"I want them to be helped streamline their business. When one person commits a crime, he or she should be arrested alone and punished. Not all people in the business are criminals," stated the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader.
He further urged all police officers to stop harassing the riders.
His sentiments come amidst a nationwide crackdown on the sector's operators over crimes the authorities termed as prevalent.
Over 200 riders were arrested since the crackdown was launched and some fined over Ksh35,000 for various charges.
A new video of the Forest Road incident showed that some of the motorcyclists roughed and sexually assaulted the female motorist.
Others were heard threatening to burn her vehicle or snatch her phone.
The clip caused uproar across the country forcing President Uhuru Kenyatta and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to intervene.
All boda boda riders were then ordered to acquire new licenses and be registered afresh in a bid to streamline the sector.
Below is the video:
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