The Special Service Unit (SSU) was a crimes unit created in 1999. SSU was previously known as Special Crime Prevention Unit (SCPU) before it adopted the new name SSU 2019 when the former Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti was at the helm. SSU was created to curb the then increasing cases of complex crimes within the country.
SSU discharged its duties under the immediate supervision of the Director Operations DCI headquarters and on several occasions assisted in areas where crime was perceived to be on the rise within the country.
Some of the role of the unit included but not limited to combat robberies involving firearms, fight stealing of goods in transit, fight illegal human trafficking, fight trafficking of narcotics, fight illegal firearm trafficking etc.
On Sunday 16 October 2022, President William Ruto, while attending an interdenominational prayer service at Kericho Green Stadium, acknowledged ordering the closure of the SSU due to its involvement in extrajudicial killings. The President said the officers in SSU had turned into killers, instead of honoring the assignments they were delegated, which were mainly to protect and serve Kenyans.
All officers serving in the disbanded unit have been recalled to the DCI headquarters for further instructions.