By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 16 January 2026 - A quiet evening of recreation in Nandi Hills has turned into a national flashpoint after CCTV footage emerged showing police officers violently assaulting young men who were playing pool, triggering widespread condemnation and renewed debate over police conduct in Kenya.
The incident, which occurred on January 10, 2026, was captured on camera inside a local pool establishment. The footage shows at least eight uniformed officers storming into the room, ordering the youths to lie on the floor before beating them with slaps and batons. Some of the young men were allegedly forced to hold their national identity cards in their mouths as the assault continued.
The motive behind the police action remains unclear, a fact that has only fuelled public anger and concern among leaders and human rights defenders.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino described the incident as disturbing and unjustifiable.
“I am deeply disturbed by the incident where police officers violently assaulted young men whose only ‘crime’ was playing pool. Let it be stated clearly: playing a game is not a crime,” he said, warning against the criminalisation of harmless leisure activities.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei demanded swift action from the top police leadership, calling for the immediate removal of the officers involved.
“I demand that the Inspector General of Police Kanja should immediately interdict and suspend the said police officers for this act of impunity to pave the way for the independent investigations to be carried out,” he said.
Cherargei further urged accountability at the county level and called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to open investigations, while also engaging the Senate Committee on National Security.
“The National security leadership must move in to prevent such acts of rogue police acts which are re-emerging frequently,” he added.
Members of the public have also voiced outrage, questioning the culture of force and impunity within the police service.
“When the system is broken, the law never seems to work,” said Robinson Rokit.
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Caroline Kiti criticised what she termed hostility towards youth spaces, saying, “The police would rather have your legit business close than have young people engage creatively. Those policemen ought to be apprehended and sacked.”
Peter Nduati questioned the unchecked authority of law enforcement officers. “Whoever will transform the police force to serve will do us justice. Where do they get all this power to assault people and get away with it?” he asked.
Brenda Kerubo stressed the need for due process. “If there is a crime they had committed, they should have been arrested and charged in a court of law. Police should be protecting us, not harassing us. We pay them, and so we are not begging,” she said.
Prominent lawyer Willis Otieno termed the assault a clear abuse of power and warned against silence from police leadership.
“Policing is not a licence to humiliate, assault, or terrorise citizens going about lawful activities. Silence or cover-up will amount to institutional complicity.
Authority without accountability is abuse. This matter cannot be wished away,” he said.
Otieno called on the National Police Service to publicly identify the officers involved and outline concrete steps being taken to investigate and discipline them.
Owino reiterated that recreational spaces play a critical role in the wellbeing of young people.
“The police cannot act as arresting officers, prosecutors and judges at the same time. Kenya is a constitutional democracy founded on the principle that every person is innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
By the time of publication, the National Police Service had yet to issue a statement on the incident. As public pressure mounts, the episode has reignited national concern over excessive use of force, accountability within the police service, and the safety of youth spaces across the country.
