A human rights organisation has claimed that special units are responsible for the widespread abductions occurring in Kenya.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organisation, says it has uncovered a secretive unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) which may be behind the alarming rise in disappearances across the country.

The unit, known as the Operation Support Unit (OSU), was reportedly established to replace the disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU).

More concerning is the allegation that a smaller, covert group within the OSU is carrying out illicit operations under the direction of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

According to Otsieno Namwaya, Associate Director at Africa Human Rights Watch, the NIS, under the leadership of Noordin Haji, has set up a special unit tasked with conducting secretive and often violent operations, including abductions.

HRW claims that President William Ruto disbanded the SSU in early 2023, only to quickly re-establish a similar unit within the DCI – now the OSU – retaining some members of the SSU and recruiting others.

“When President Ruto came to power in 2022, he raised concerns about the Special Service Unit, a unit within the DCI, which he said was responsible for abductions and dumping bodies in River Yala,” said Namwaya.

“At that time, over 30 bodies had just been discovered in the river. We believe he knew what he was talking about, as he was the Deputy President at the time,” he added.

Namwaya alleged that the team was recruited in 2023 to continue the SSU’s illicit activities.

“Operation Support Unit replaced the SSU, and it is doing exactly what the SSU used to do. SSU would abduct people randomly across the country,” Namwaya said.

He noted that suspected traffickers and government critics have become frequent victims of the abduction squad.

Alongside the OSU, there is also an alleged unit known as the Operation Action Team, made up of selected members from various security agencies, including the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), DCI, and military intelligence.

Although officially led by a senior DCI officer, it is claimed that the NIS controls the unit’s operations, using surveillance to carry out “dirty work.”

“The Operation Action Team is under a senior DCI officer, but the real work is controlled by the NIS. They do the surveillance,” Namwaya said.

Namwaya also claimed that a clandestine group within the NIS, known as Mafundi, is involved in these operations.

“Mafundi are like the mechanics. If they need to do some dirty work, they send Mafundi,” he explained.

These allegations follow a dramatic statement from Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Justin Muturi, who accused the NIS of orchestrating the abduction of his son.

“Mafundi are also involved in abductions as part of a multi-agency unit. There’s a lot of confusion. Sometimes it’s unclear whether the abductions are carried out by NIS, DCI, or military intelligence,” said Namwaya.

He added, “Most of the abductions in Lamu, Garissa, and Mandera in 2015, 2016, and 2017 were carried out by military intelligence. The military has been incorporated in some abductions towards the end of last year, but right now, the real work is being done by NIS and DCI.”

HRW Executive Director Mausi Segun stated that President Ruto bears ultimate responsibility for the ongoing abductions.

“It’s clear who is behind this. It’s complicated, but it’s clear to those of us investigating. We are peeling back the layers, and it goes all the way to the top, where it needs to be addressed,” Segun said.