Public outrage has erupted after an eight-minute CCTV video surfaced online showing armed police officers brutally assaulting young men inside a pool hall in Nandi Hills, Nandi County, in what many Kenyans are calling another disturbing case of unchecked police brutality.
The viral footage, which includes audio, captures uniformed officers armed with guns and batons storming the recreational facility in the early hours of Thursday morning. The officers are seen ordering the 12 young men inside the pool hall to lie on the floor before repeatedly beating some of them with batons.
At one point in the video, an officer is heard demanding identification documents from the patrons. Tensions escalate when one of the young men attempts to leave the premises, prompting officers to pounce on him and subject him to a vicious beating as others look on helplessly.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with Kenyans demanding immediate action from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei demands action
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has come out strongly against the officers involved, describing the incident as “criminal, inhumane, and a blatant abuse of human rights.”
“I want to strongly condemn these acts of police brutality, criminality, and abuse of human rights perpetrated by police officers in Nandi Hills Town,” Cherargei said in a statement.
The senator demanded the immediate interdiction and suspension of the officers captured in the video to allow for independent investigations.
“I demand that the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, should immediately interdict and suspend the said police officers for this act of impunity. This will pave the way for independent investigations to be carried out,” he stated.
Cherargei pointed out that playing pool is not a criminal offence under Kenyan law, questioning the justification for the violent operation. He further noted that the officers’ conduct violated Article 244 of the Constitution, which requires the National Police Service to uphold professionalism, respect human rights, and foster public trust.
The senator has now called on the Senate Committee on National Security to urgently investigate the incident and ensure justice for the victims. He also urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to immediately commence investigations and prosecution proceedings against the officers involved.
“IPOA has been reluctant to prosecute police officers who were allegedly involved in killings in the Kimwani area in Nandi County. This culture of impunity must stop,” Cherargei said.
The Nandi Hills incident has reignited national debate over police violence, coming amid growing concern over the treatment of young men by law enforcement agencies.
According to the Missing Voices Annual Report 2024–2025 by human rights organisations, at least 104 people were killed by police, and 55 others forcibly disappeared between 2024 and 2025. The majority of the victims were young men aged between 19 and 34.
The report further notes that during the June–August 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, at least 63 people were killed by police, while more than 65 others disappeared under unclear circumstances.
Senator Cherargei has vowed to relentlessly pursue accountability for the Nandi Hills incident.
“I will pursue these officers until justice is served for my constituents,” he said.
As pressure mounts, Kenyans are now waiting to see whether the police leadership and oversight bodies will act decisively, or whether the latest viral footage will join a long list of unresolved cases of alleged police brutality.
Leave a Comment