Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya on Monday asked bandits to return firearms within seven days, promising them government protection.

The administrator pledged that those who return weapons acquired illegally, within this period, will not be punished.

The amnesty begins on Tuesday. He said since the security operation begun in the area three weeks ago, only three guns have been surrendered to the authorities and he believes more are still in the hands of perpetrators of the violence in the region