President William Ruto has explained the reasons he ordered the disbandment of the Special Service Unit (SSU) of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Speaking in Kericho during a thanksgiving service, the president claimed the unit was turned into a hits squad for executing Kenyans.

Ruto also linked the squad with the mysterious killings of the individuals whose bodies turned up in River Yala, Siaya County.


"They had five years which they used to run down the country in which insecurity had hit unimaginable levels with bodies were found killed in river Yala. The police had deviated from the role of protecting Kenyans to killing them," Ruto said.

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"That is why I gave an order that the SSU of the police be disbanded because it was killing Kenyans anyhow.”

Ruto’s remarks come just a day after the Ag Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow on Saturday issued a directive to disband the unit.

The disbandment comes when the National Police Service prepares for reorganisation under the current administration.

According to the DCI website, the unit was created in 1999 because of the increase in unusual and peculiar crimes within the Republic of Kenya.

The unit that replaced the Special Crimes Prevention unit discharged its duties under the immediate supervision of the Director Operations DCI Headquarters and frequently assisted in areas where crime was perceived to be on the rise within the Country.