Deputy President William Ruto says the sole goal of the operation is to weed out criminals without targeting any community in the country.
He says whatever is happening at Safaricom Kasarani Stadium is no different from other police stations across the country.
The Deputy President, who interacted with Kenyans on social media on the Jubilee administration’s one year in office, said : “We have so far deported 82 people who were living here illegally. But what is wrong with taking people to their homes for being here illegally and after abusing our generosity?” he posed.
The event was streamed live on www.capitalfm.co.ke
He however assured the country that the operation will be carried within the precincts of the law.
“Asking people to tell us who they are, where they come from and why they are here is not a crime,” he pointed out.
A section of politicians and human rights agencies have since faulted the operation while questioning its legality. Police however maintain that it is a security operation which must be carried out in a particular manner.
On devolution, the Deputy President said the Government has done more than the constitutional requirements in the last one year by devolving more funds to the counties.
“We choose to be measured by what we have done and not what people talk about on matters of devolution. We have facilitated the transfer of services to the county governments within a year instead of three years,” he said.
He said accountability and transparency were crucial to the success of devolution, saying those undermining devolution were those who do not want to be accountable.
To reduce the high cost of living, the Deputy President said the government was giving priority to the development of agriculture including enhancing supply, reduction of fertilizers, expanding irrigation programmes as well as engaging in value addition crops.
“If we double the production of maize among other crops, improve infrastructure in areas leading to agricultural zones, we will definitely reduce the cost of living since we will have access to cheap food,” he said.