The National Police Service (NPS) has begun investigations against an officer whose TikTok Live video went viral on the morning of Wednesday, July 19.
In a statement, the service confirmed that it instituted an internal review with the aim of taking disciplinary action against him.
The officer, who was dressed in his uniform, recorded himself live on TikTok making commentary relating to the ongoing Azimio la Umoja protests.
"As a disciplined service, we wish to clarify and assure the public that the behaviour portrayed in the clip is not only unacceptable but also doesn't reflect the values of NPS.
"The remarks are therefore regrettable and stand condemned in the strongest terms possible, even as we embark on an internal review with a view of preferring appropriate disciplinary action," read the statement in part.
NPS further condemned his dress code insisting that he was 'improperly dressed' while 'making misleading and reckless remarks.'
In the clip, the officer claimed that he was at a police station with the background showing that he was inside a police vehicle.
NPS had barred all Police officers from airing their grievances on social media noting that proper channels to speak to authority were available countrywide.
The directive issued in 2021 was aimed at curbing instances where police officers disgruntled by their pay or working conditions looked to social media to seek help.
In 2019, the service also barred police officers from making comments on social media in their capacities as assigned by the NPS.
At the time, the agency directed that official communications should only be made by the office of the spokesperson or respective service headquarters.
Danger of Social Media Video Shared by Military
Other countries such as the United States barred members of the military and select government officers from sharing their videos or going live on platforms such as TikTok while at their bases, places of work or in uniform.
They argued that the social media algorithms accorded their enemies a chance to study their behaviour and the landscape of their bases making it easier for them to launch attacks.
