Mystery deepens over plainclothes officers in unmarked Subarus

]By Newsflash Writer

An elite police unit has come under intense scrutiny after being linked to a series of abductions, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings, raising fresh fears of a return to rogue security operations.

Sources within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) say the plainclothes officers, often spotted in unmarked Subaru vehicles, are believed to be part of a shadowy unit suspected to be a rebranded version of the defunct Special Service Unit (SSU), previously disbanded due to abuse of power.

The mysterious team reappeared on public radar on Monday when a video emerged online showing a man being forcibly taken into an unmarked grey Subaru by armed men in civilian clothes along Jogoo Road. The footage captured the dramatic moment of abduction, sparking public outrage and concern over rising incidents of disappearances and brutality.

Victims of such abductions are rarely seen again, with families left in the dark. Some are later found dead, while others vanish without a trace.

Controversial operations

While authorities claim the unit operates within legal limits, especially under Kenya’s anti-terror laws, critics argue that the team routinely violates suspects’ rights and evades accountability.

The operations are reportedly conducted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), though many targets have no clear links to terrorism. The use of unmarked vehicles and civilian attire has raised concerns about the legality of arrests and the safety of suspects.

In some instances, suspects are charged with terrorism-related offenses. One such case involves the arrest of Mohamed Sira, accused of plotting attacks against government officials.

His co-accused were apprehended at various points in Nairobi and its outskirts, including Pipeline, South B, and Ruai.

Makadara MP George Aladwa, Mathare MP Antony Oluoch, and Nyali MP Mohamed Ali have condemned the unit’s secretive operations, warning that the country could be slipping back to an era of extrajudicial killings that characterized previous regimes.

They insist that any such unit must operate within constitutional guidelines and be subject to civilian oversight.

Growing fear, silence from authorities

The DCI has remained tight-lipped, refusing to comment on whether the unit is officially recognized or operating with rogue authority. Meanwhile, incidents of armed men in Subarus abducting suspects have continued, sparking fear and confusion.

In one notable case, officers allegedly arrested a suspect on terrorism charges and transferred them to Nairobi without notifying local authorities or providing documentation. The suspect was held incommunicado for days.

Security experts say the lack of transparency and oversight makes such operations fertile ground for human rights violations. They warn that without proper checks, these covert activities could result in a parallel policing system that operates outside the law.

In 2022, President William Ruto disbanded the Special Service Unit, which had been accused of extrajudicial killings. However, observers believe it was quietly revived under a different structure and name, continuing similar clandestine activities.

Video clips circulating on social media show suspects being abducted in broad daylight, with bystanders too afraid to intervene. In many cases, victims are never seen again, and their families are left seeking answers from unresponsive authorities.

Rights activists and legal experts are calling for an urgent review of all arrests conducted by such units, arguing that the use of unmarked vehicles and masked officers violates legal procedures and fosters a culture of impunity.

They further warn that the re-emergence of unaccountable security squads undermines public trust in law enforcement and puts innocent civilians at risk.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has also been urged to investigate the legality and conduct of the unit’s operations, especially amid rising reports of torture, forced confessions, and suspicious deaths.

Kenyans now await clear answers from the government: Who are these officers in unmarked Subarus, and under whose authority do they operate? Until then, fear continues to spread with each mysterious disappearance.