President William Ruto slammed police over extra-judicial murders as he announced that he had disbanded Special Services Unit (SSU) in the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
Speaking at Uhuru Gardens during Mashujaa Day celebration, Ruto said he undertook initiatives to reform the police on the first day that he assumed office as the President.
"Our government has undertaken necessary personnel realignment in the security services to facilitate the rapid achievement of our objectives in this sector. On my first day in office, I executed the instruments to actualize the financial autonomy of the National Police Service and have given the necessary directives to rapidly achieve national security strategic objectives," Ruto said.
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The President noted that he is reforming DCI to ensure that they expeditiously resolve investigations to a standard that can support effective prosecution and secure convictions.
"These actions extend to the facilitation of the Director of Criminal Investigations to expeditiously resolve investigations to a standard that can support effective prosecution and secure convictions. The independence of the National Police Service for its institutional credibility and efficiency, citizen safety and welfare and effective maintenance of law and order," the President said.
Extrajudicial killings
The President further noted that the police could not engage in disastrous policies like summary executions.
"A professional police service fosters harmonious relationships with Citizens and communities cannot be weaponized in pursuit of divisive or partisan agenda and can never resort to disastrous policies like extra-judicial murder as part of policing," Ruto said.
"I believe we can keep this country safe and secure without tormenting our people. We can efficiently and effectively suppress crime, monitor and disrupt and apprehend criminals without abducting, torturing, killing or causing citizens to disappear. It is time to retire these terrible tactics and professionalize our criminal justice system," he added.
SSU disbanded
The President further announced that he was forced to disband the Special Services Unit (SSU) in the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and stressed that investigations into the murders committed by the unit commenced in earnest.
"My government is taking strong measures to facilitate the enhancement of capacities along the entire security chain. I have directed that immediate measures be undertaken to disband the Special Services Unit in the Directorate of Criminal Investigation and with urgency investigations must commence so that those found culpable are held to account. There must also be robust mechanisms throughout the police service to maintain high professional standards, scrupulous adherence to the rule of law, accountability for actions and decisions and operational transparency," Ruto said.
