Kenya President William Ruto has disbanded the Special Service Unit (SSU), a police unit accused of extrajudicial killings.
SSU which was created more than two decades ago has been in the spotlight as cases of disappearances and murders.
Ruto made the announcement on Sunday during an interdenominational church service at the Green Stadium in Kericho County.
The disbandment of the Special Service Unit that was engaging in extrajudicial killings, the President explained, was part of the measures to ensuring Kenya is secure.
“We have disbanded the unit that was killing Kenyans arbitrarily,” Ruto told the congregation, adding, “Security deteriorated and the police changed to killing Kenyans instead of protecting them.”
The unit belonged to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“We have a plan to secure this country so that we avoid the shame of Kenyans killed through extra-judicial killings and put in Yala River and other rivers,” Ruto explained.
New DCI chief
On Saturday, the president appointed Mr Amin Ibrahim Mohamed as the new Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Mr Mohamed, who previously served as the Director of the Internal Affairs Unit of the National Police Service, takes over from Mr George Kinoti who resigned last month.
The appointment of the new DCI Director is contained in Gazette No. 213 of October 14th, 2022.
New Presidential Team
On Friday, Ruto made several appointments to the Executive Office of the President.
The President named Mr Felix Koskei as the new Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service and Hon Katoo Ole Metito as State House Comptroller.
Economist Dr David Ndii will be Chairperson of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors; former Treasury PS Dr Kamau Thugge as Senior Advisor and Head of Fiscal Affairs and Budget Policy; while Mr Augustine Cheruyiot is Senior Advisor and Head of Economic Transformation Secretariat.
Former National Bank of Kenya Chairman Mr Mohamed Hassan and policy analyst Dr Nancy Laibuni are Member and Associate Member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisors respectively.
The Head of State appointed Hon Josphat Koli Nanok (Deputy Chief of Staff), Mr David Mugonyi (Head of Presidential Communication Service) and Mr Hussein Mohamed (State House Spokesperson).