'They became killers instead of protectors,' President Ruto explains disbandment of DCI elite squad

President William Ruto has shed light into the disbandment of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)'s Special Service Unit (SSU) on Sunday.

The DCI announced SSU's dissolution through a statement on Sunday, attributing the choice to an order from the acting Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow.

Mr Gabow, the statement said, had summoned all officers assigned to the disbanded unit to DCI Headquarters for further guidance.

President Ruto has noted that he directed the disbandment of the elite squad as part of his plan to address extra-judicial killings in the country.

Speaking during an interdenominational prayer service at Kericho Green Stadium in Kericho County, the Head of State said the police unit had become killers, instead of protectors of ordinary Kenyans.

"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.

In late 2019, the then DCI boss George Kinoti disbanded the dreaded Flying Squad police unit in a move aimed at ensuring effective and efficient prevention of crime in the country.

The Flying Squad was replaced by the Sting Squad Headquarters (SSH), a new unit comprised of only 50 highly-trained officers based in Nairobi.

At the same time, the Special Crime Prevention Unit (SCPU) was renamed and scaled down to a smaller unit only based at the DCI headquarters in Nairobi.

The Special Crime Prevention Unit became the Special Service Unit (SSU), with its members undergoing specialised training within and outside the country.