A section of businesspersons and farmers in Eldoret town has come out to narrate some of their experiences in the hands of the dreaded Special Service Unit (SSU).
The unit was on Saturday disbanded by the Acting Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow. This was following an order from President William Ruto.
But while welcoming the disbandment of the unit, formerly known as the Flying Squad, some of the businesspersons in Eldoret recalled the torture and harassment they were subjected to by officers attached to it.
“It was not the first time I fell in their hands but what pains me so much is when they threatened to shoot and kill me. After handcuffing me, they went away with my approximately Ksh107,000 by force,” narrated Sammy Yego.
Yego claimed police officers attached to the disbanded unit targeted businesspersons and farmers.
Gideon Yego, another businessman and a farmer in Uasin Gishu also narrated how police officers attached to SSU stole money from them.
He said the unit showed a high level of thuggery in security agencies yet they were meant to protect Kenyans.
Further, the businesspersons and farmers welcomed the disbandment of the unit.
“I want to thank our president, William Ruto for removing this unit that has disturbed Kenyans for a long,” Yego said.
Give direction on SSU criminal activities
On his part, Kimutai Kirui, an Eldoret-based Human Rights Activist at the Center against Torture asked the Head of State to give direction on the serious criminal cases committed by the unit he termed was composed of rogue police officers.
“We are happy by the president disbanded the unit which reflects the freedom of Kenyans after long-suffering. This body has been harassing Kenyans and torturing them which is a bad picture,” said Kimutai.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) website, SSU was formed in 1999. Previously, it was known as Special Crime Prevention Unit and adopted the new name (Special Service Unit) in the year 2019.
DCI website says the unit was created due to the increase in unusual and peculiar crimes within the Republic of Kenya.
But according to President Ruto, he ordered the unit disbanded because it was used to kill innocent Kenyans.
“I am the one who ordered that the Special Service Unit, which was conducting extrajudicial killings, be disbanded. We have a plan on how to secure this country so that we avoid the shame of Kenyans killed by the police and their bodies dumped] in Yala River and others. We are going to change this country for the better,” President Ruto said while addressing a thanksgiving service in Kericho on October 16, 2022.
