This archive report was first published on 5 January 2020.
On January 5, 2020, the disbandment of the Flying Squad was met with cautious optimism, but experts warn that the new Sting Squad must operate differently to avoid similar abuses of power.
The Flying Squad's history of involvement in robberies and extrajudicial arrests and abductions was largely unchecked due to a lack of accountability.
Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoto has been praised for his efforts to combat crime, but he must ensure the new Sting Squad operates within the law.
A new agency should be established to oversee and hold rogue units accountable for their actions, upholding the principles of checks and balances and the 2010 Constitution's emphasis on a 'society of justification.'
As Etienne Mureinik noted in his paper 'A bridge to where,' every government unit must use its power for the public's best interest, and the Sting Squad is no exception.
Without proper oversight, the new unit risks being a case of 'old wine in new wineskins,' perpetuating the same abuses of power.
— Atamba Sheldon, Moi University law student
