President William Ruto now says he ordered the disbandment of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)'s Special Service Unit (SSU) over links to extrajudicial killings in the country.
Speaking during an interdenominational church service at Kericho Green Stadium in Kericho County on Sunday, October 16, the Head of State said the officers in the elite police unit had become killers, deviating from their role of protecting the citizenry.
Ruto made the remarks while criticizing the opposition for going to bed with the previous administration, leaving Kenyans on their own.
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"I am asking the opposition to give us time to turn around this country. They had five years which they used to ruin our country. We had a dilapidated economy, debt-laden country and insecurity was the order of the day," the President told congregants as he pledged to transform the country for the better.
"...The police changed and became killers instead of protectors of ordinary Kenyans. I have ordered the disbandment of a special Police unit that was killing Kenyans arbitrarily. We will change this country for the better, " Ruto told congregants.
The unit was disbanded on Saturday following a directive from the Acting Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow.
Officers serving under the unit have since been recalled to the DCI Headquarters along Kiambu Road for 'further instructions'.
"The DCI Special Service Unit (SSU) has been disbanded with immediate effect. This follows a directive from the Ag. IG Mr Noor Gabow," DCI said in a statement.
“All officers serving in the disbanded unit have been recalled to DCI Headquarters for further instructions."
DCI said the move will allow the National Police Service to prepare for reorganisation under the new administration under the new DCI boss Amin Mohammed Ibrahim, who was appointed yesterday by the President.
The disbanded unit was created in December 2019 by ex-DCI boss George Kinoti.
It was comprised of highly trained officers who worked closely with the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB) for information and intelligence sharing.
