President Ruto Says Disbanded DCI Elite Unit Was a 'Kill Squad'

President Ruto has spoken out after the disbandment of the Special Service Unit (SSU) of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The DCI announced the dissolution of the unit on Sunday, citing an order by the acting Inspector-General of Police Noor Gabow, who summoned all officers assigned to the disbanded unit to DCI headquarters for further instructions

"This comes as the National Police Service prepares for reorganization under the new administration," DCI said in a statement.

Speaking during an interdenominational prayer service at Kericho Green Stadium on Sunday, President Ruto said he directed the disbandment of the elite unit as part of his administration’s efforts to address extra-judicial killings in the country.

The president claimed officers attached to the unit had become killers, instead of protectors of ordinary Kenyans. He cited the retrieval of over 30 dead bodies from River Yala over the past few months.

"The country was very insecure. 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 disbanded unit was previously known as the Special Crime Prevention Unit (SCPU) before it was renamed in 2019 and scaled down to a smaller unit only based at the DCI headquarters in Nairobi. 

Former DCI director George Kinoti, who resigned last month, renamed SCPU to Special Service Unit (SSU) whose members underwent specialized training within and outside the country.

SSU was tasked with handling cases of illegal trafficking of firearms and or ammunition, trafficking of narcotic drugs, violent robberies, cases of stealing of goods in transit, and illegal human trafficking.