Nairobi, January 16- Public outrage has erupted after CCTV footage emerged showing police officers assaulting a group of young men who were playing pool at a premises in Nandi Hills town earlier this month. The disturbing video has circulated widely online, drawing condemnation from the public, legal experts, and political leaders.
The footage, recorded on January 10, shows at least eight officers believed to be attached to Nandi Hills Police Station storming the pool hall where the youths were engaged in a recreational game. The officers ordered the young men to lie on the floor and, in a degrading act, forced some of them to hold their national identity cards in their mouths while being beaten with batons.
The reason behind the police operation remains unclear, prompting questions about the legality and justification of the officers’ actions. Many Kenyans have pointed out that playing pool is a lawful activity and that citizens are not legally required to carry identification documents at all times.
Lawyer Willis Otieno described the incident as a serious abuse of power and a violation of human dignity. He called on police leadership to publicly identify the officers involved and outline the steps being taken to investigate and discipline them.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also weighed in, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the officers captured in the footage. He warned against the criminalisation of lawful leisure activities and said police brutality has no place in a democratic society.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei similarly urged for independent investigations, stressing that the National Police Service has a constitutional duty to uphold human rights and maintain professionalism. As of publication, the police had not released an official statement on the incident, even as calls for accountability continue to grow.
