CCTV captures police officers brutally beating young men shooting pool in Nandi Hills

Public outrage has erupted after CCTV footage surfaced showing police officers assaulting young men who were playing pool at a premises in Nandi Hills.

The video showing the brutal attack by the police sparked renewed calls for accountability and police reforms.

Eight police officers, believed to be attached to Nandi Hills Police Station, were captured on CCTV forcefully storming into a room where several youths were peacefully engaged in a pool game.

The reason for the police action remains unclear, intensifying condemnation from members of the public and human rights advocates.

The police officers are seen ordering the youths to lie on the floor before picking up pool cues and using them to beat the young men.

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Nandi Senator Samson Cheragei strongly condemned the incident, stating that the youths had not committed any offence that would justify such treatment.

"I want to strongly condemn these acts of police brutality, criminality and abuse of human rights perpetrated by police officers in Nandi Hills Town, Nandi County, against peace-loving youth whose only mistake was play pool game, which is not an offence in any of our laws," he said.

The senator further called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to take immediate action against the officers involved.

" I Demand the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja should immediately interdict and suspend the said police officers for this act of impunity. This is to also pave the way for the independent investigations to be carried out. Their superiors, including those in the county security team, must face full administrative action," he added.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also weighed in, demanding the arrest of the officers captured assaulting the youths, noting that playing pool is not a crime. In a statement shared on his Instagram account, Owino condemned the incident.

‘’ Our youths are already going through a lot in this country, for many of them engaging in games is not just leisure but a positive way to keep themselves occupied.

Prominent lawyer Willis Otieno described the incident as a grave abuse of power and a clear violation of human dignity.

“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,” Otieno said. “This matter cannot be wished away.”

Kenyans on social media echoed similar concerns, questioning what offence, if any, the youths had committed. Some users asked whether a curfew was in place in Nandi County or if there was any legal requirement for citizens to carry identification at all times.

“Pool games are legal in Kenya; no police officer has the authority to suspend human dignity,” one social media user wrote.

Others called for the immediate suspension of the officers involved and demanded an independent investigation into the incident.