Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga has said that all boda boda operators should not be punished for one operator’s fault.

Raila was addressing a gathering in Meru when he urged police officers to stop harassing boda boda operators across the country even as they implement the crackdown ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“If someone commits a crime, they are personally criminal. Not everyone who is in the same business is a criminal. Boda boda operators should not be punished because of one person’s fault,” Raila said.

With the same breath, Raila condemned in the strongest terms the attack on the female motorist who was sexually assaulted along Forest Road on Friday.

“Recently there was a lady who was driving her car and an accident occurred. He was later attacked and beaten by boda boda operators who were nearby. That kind of act must be condemned. Whoever did that did a wrong thing. However, it should not be assumed that was a general act of all boda boda operators,” Raila said.

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Raila maintained boda boda operators are just doing their jobs and need to be assisted to run their industry.

He said if someone makes a mistake, then only that person should be confronted, arrested and get punished.

“If someone makes a mistake, only that person should be arrested and get punished,” the ODM leader said.

Raila was speaking against the backdrop of the ongoing crackdown on boda boda operators following the assault on a female motorist by some boda boda operators on Forest Road.