Senator Demands IG Kanja Suspend Officers Caught on CCTV Assaulting Youth in Nandi

An eight-minute surveillance video showing police officers brutally assaulting young men at a pool hall in Nandi Hills, making rounds on social media, has sparked widespread condemnation online, with growing calls for the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to act.

The footage captures uniformed officers equipped with guns and batons storming the recreational facility, forcing the 12 men in the room to the floor before beginning to assault some of the patrons with batons

The officer could be heard asking for IDs on the CCTV, which captured audio as well. The situation escalated when one man attempted to leave the joint, with officers raining down on him.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has called for immediate action against the officers involved in the Thursday morning incident.

I want to strongly condemn these acts of police brutality, criminality, and abuse of human rights perpetrated by police officers in Nandi Hills Town," Senator Cherargei stated.

The Senator demanded that Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja immediately interdict and suspend the officers pending investigations.

“Demand that the Inspector General of Police Kanja should immediately interdict and suspend the said police officers for this act of impunity. This also paves the way for the independent investigations to be carried out,” stated Senator Cherargei.

Playing pool is not an offense under the law, yet the footage showed the young men being subjected to what observers describe as excessive force.

Senator Cherargei noted that the actions violated Article 244 of the Constitution, which mandates police to respect human rights and maintain professionalism.

He has urged the Senate Committee on National Security to investigate the matter urgently while ensuring justice for the victims.

The Senator also called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to commence prosecution proceedings against the officers involved.

IPOA has been reluctant to prosecute police officers who were allegedly involved in killings in the Kimwani area, Nandi County," Cherargei said.

This incident adds to Kenya's growing police brutality crisis, documented in the Missing Voices Annual Report 2024-2025 by human rights organisations.

The report recorded 104 police-related killings and 55 enforced disappearances between 2024 and 2025, with most victims being young men aged 19-34

During the June-August 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests alone, at least 63 people were killed by police and over 65 disappeared.

The Senator vowed to pursue the officers ruthlessly until they face consequences for their actions against his constituents.

8t8 media tried to reach out to authorities in Nandi Hills, but by the time this story was published, there was no response.