The government has given in to public pressure and formed a multi-agency unit to curb  rising cases of abductions and enforced disapperances.

The 30-strong special unit has its officers drawn from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the General Service Unit (GSU) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS) among others.

The unit has a nationwide mandate and will be headed by an officer of the rank of a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) from one of the services within the National Police Service (NPS).

The unit, though independent, will be working closely with other oversight bodies including the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa).

DCI Director-General Mohamed Amin is said have assembled a team of veteran detectives and directed them to firmly deal with the emerging trend of crime that has won the government wide condemnation.

Sources intimated to the People Daily that the formation of the unit has the blessings of President William Ruto and Inspector General of Police David Kanja. The unit based at DCI headquarters, Mazingira House, began its work this week.

Reached for comment, National Police Spokesman Michael Muchiri said though he was not aware of the new squad, the IG and DCI had undertaken before a judge to ensure that all cases of related to alleged abductions to thoroughly investigated.

“There is a team of officers from the DCI’s Homicide and Investigations Bureau charged with ensuring all alleged abductions, kidnappings and enforced disappearances are investigated and the suspects brought to book,” Muchiri said.

The NPS has established a number of special police units including the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), Diplomatic Police Unit (DPU), Anti-Narcotic Unit (ANU), Judiciary Police Unit (JPU) and Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU).

Others are the Land Fraud Unit, Homicide Unit, Cyber Crime Unit, CRIB, and the recently formed National Government Administration Police Unit (NGAPU).

The government has been under a lot of pressure from Kenyans, human rights organizations and even the US over the abductions.