Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga has pledged to free petty offenders when he becomes president.

Raila was speaking when he held a virtual rally on Friday evening when he also said he will never abandon his quest to defend the weak.

"I have been defending the weak and I will never change," he said.

Raila criticised the judicial system for prioritising the arrest of petty offenders other than tightening the noose on the high-profile individuals facing charges such as corruption.

Raila was speaking against the backdrop of the recent case in which a jobless you man was sentenced to a year in prison or pay a Sh100,000 fine after pleading guilty to shoplifting at a Naivas Supermarket.

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The former premier said the move showed there is a flaw in the judicial system.

"This is a very worrying case. It shows just how flawed our judicial system can be at times. He is just a petty offender but he was sentenced quite quickly yet we have persons facing graft cases," Raila said.

Raila protested the slap on the wrist the high-profile individuals get whenever they are found on the wrong side of the law.

"In most cases, they are not even arrested and when they are apprehended they get out of remand quickly. When they are freed on bail, nobody follows up on their cases," he said.

The former Prime Minister said there are a lot of petty offenders wallowing in the prison system and pledged that when he becomes president, he would set them free and train his guns on high-profile offenders.

“In the event, I clinch the presidency, I will free them and I will prioritise the arrest and sentencing of high-profile gangsters,” Raila pledged.

Raila also wished Kenyans a great Easter holiday and cautioned motorists to be careful on the roads to avoid loss of lives.

"I wish you a great Easter Holiday to all Kenyans wherever you may be. Be careful on the roads so that we do not lose more lives on the road. Enjoy the Easter festivities but do not overdo it," Raila warned.