NAIROBI, Kenya — Six senior police officers in Nandi County are facing immediate administrative action following public outcry over a viral video showing uniformed officers assaulting young men playing pool in Nandi Hills.
The move comes as law enforcement leadership seeks to reinforce discipline and restore public trust in the National Police Service (NPS).
The incident, which occurred on January 10, 2026, was captured on CCTV footage that circulated widely on social media and sparked nationwide condemnation.
The video shows officers storming a recreational pool hall late at night, ordering patrons to lie on the floor, demanding their identification documents and physically assaulting some with batons, despite no clear indication of any criminal offence being committed.
Probe and Findings
Following the widespread outrage, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja directed the National Police Service’s Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to conduct a thorough investigation into the conduct of the officers involved.
The IAU report identified significant lapses in command and supervision linked to the incident.
Based on the findings, the IG accepted recommendations to take administrative action against six senior officers who had oversight responsibility at the time of the incident.
Bwana IG kanja Administrative action cannot be taken on criminal actions as per the law. This is pure public relations exercise for Kenyans to forget.The canning and brutalization of young men playing Pool game at Nandi hills Town, Nandi county are criminal actions worth
Those affected include:
- The Sub-County Police Commander (OCPD) for Tinderet,
- The Officer Commanding Station (OCS) for Nandi Hills,
- the OCS for Songoh,
- The Officer in Charge of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) Songoh Camp,
- The Officer in Charge of the GSU Songoh Camp, and
- The Officer in Charge of the ASTU Songoh Camp.
Officials have not publicly disclosed the specific nature of the administrative measures, but such action can range from interdiction or suspension to transfer, reprimand or other disciplinary sanctions under NPS policies.
Reaction and Accountability
In a statement, the NPS emphasised that the administrative action is intended to reinforce accountability for conduct within command jurisdictions and to uphold professional standards.
The service reiterated its “zero tolerance for misconduct” and extended sympathies to the victims of the assault.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) also confirmed its own ongoing investigation after deploying a rapid response team to Nandi Hills.
IPOA has urged members of the public with relevant information to come forward, stressing the importance of a transparent and impartial inquiry.
Prominent figures, including Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, publicly condemned the conduct, describing it as an abuse of policing powers and calling for swift accountability.
Civil society groups and legal experts have similarly decried the incident as a violation of citizens’ rights.
