The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has announced the beginning of investigations after an eight-minute surveillance video showing police officers assaulting young men at a pool hall in Nandi Hills went viral on social media and prompted widespread condemnation online.
The CCTV video, timestamped at approximately 11:50pm on January 10, 2026, appears to show several uniformed officers entering a pool table, forcing about 12 young men to the floor, and assaulting them with batons. Audio from the CCTV also captured officers demanding identification before escalating the brutality.
In a statement released on Friday, January 16, IPOA said it dispatched a Rapid Investigations Team to Nandi Hills early that morning after the video began circulating widely, with the team tasked with carrying out comprehensive investigations into the incident.
The team’s mandate is to establish the sequence of events, assess the conduct of officers involved, and determine any culpability in line with IPOA regulations.
The authority confirmed that the incident affected multiple establishments within Nandi Hills, including bars and hotels. At the same time, several victims and witnesses have been identified and contacted to provide statements to the ongoing investigation.
IPOA condemned any unnecessary or unwarranted use of force in policing and called for calm as it continues its investigation.
Nandi Hills Senator Samson Cherargei is among several leaders who have publicly condemned the acts, calling them police brutality and exploitation of human rights. In a statement shared on Friday morning, he demanded the immediate interdiction and suspension of the officers involved pending investigations.
Senator Cherargei stressed that playing pool is not an offense under the law, and the assault constitutes a breach of Article 244 of the Constitution, which mandates that police respect human rights and maintain professionalism.
The footage further shows tensions flaring after one man tried to exit the premises, prompting officers to unleash a barrage of blows on him and several others as the situation spiralled out of control.
However, IPOA noted that no formal complaints had been lodged despite the video circulating online and urged the public to report incidents promptly to enable timely intervention and protection of citizens’ rights.
"The Authority condemns any use of unnecessary and unwarranted force in policing, calls for calm as it undertakes investigations, and reaffirms its commitment to impartial inquiries and the promotion of accountability and professionalism within the National Police Service. Further updates will be communicated upon the conclusion of the preliminary investigations," IPOA said in a statement signed by its chairperson, Issack Hassan.
"Lastly, the Authority notes that prior to the video being posted online, no complaint had been lodged regarding the incident, and calls upon members of the public to make formal complaints whenever such incidents occur."
