Kindiki Kithure rules out extending illegal guns amnesty

"The command centre for the operation has been established. Adequate security personnel, land and air equipment have fully been deployed to ensure the logistical and operational success of our mission," the Interior CS said.

He said National Police Service and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers, deployed in the operation, had sealed off the bandits' hideouts.

"We will strike hard and neutralise all threats in the nooks, crannies, escarpments and gorges where these criminals hide and ensure these areas will never be accessible to criminals," Kindiki added, stating that the government had reached out to Ugandan and South Sudanese governments to seal escape routes on the borders.

"We are not distracted from other security priorities that the country is facing. We remain alert in order to detect, deter and neutralise any security threat within the borders of Kenya... The current Security Operation is in our national interest with the aim of ensuring our homeland remains safe and secure for the people of Kenya and the visitors who are legitimately in our country," he said.

He said the government won't relent in the fight against banditry. "The aim of the operation is to flush out livestock-stealing armed terrorists who for decades have terrorised large parts of Baringo, Samburu, Laikipia, Turkana West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties," he added.

However, the deployment of KDF soldiers in the operation has faced heavy criticism over the fact that Parliament was bypassed. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has questioned why President William Ruto did not seek Parliament's approval before the deployment.

The Law Society of Kenya has also faulted the move, threatening to challenge the deployment in court, even as reports suggest that the National Assembly could soon summon Kindiki and Defence CS Aden Duale over the deployment.

The constitution requires that Parliament approves the deployment of the KDF in restoring peace within the country, but the government is relying on a provision that allows them to deploy soldiers to aid the police in instances of emergencies and disasters, which only requires that Parliament is notified of the deployment.