By Andrew Kariuki
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has condemned alleged police brutality in Nandi Hills Town following the circulation of CCTV footage showing officers assaulting and verbally abusing a group of youths who were reportedly playing a pool game at night.
The video, widely shared on social media, captures uniformed officers shouting orders such as “Lala chini!” and “wapi ID” as they confronted the youths, before beating and insulting them.
The incident has sparked public outrage, with questions raised over the conduct of the officers involved and the legality of their actions.
In a statement issued Thursday morning on Facebook, Cherargei said the youths’ only activity at the time was playing pool, which he emphasized is not an offence under Kenyan law.
He described the incident as criminal, unlawful and a violation of basic human rights.
The senator cited Article 244 of the Constitution, which mandates the National Police Service to respect human rights, maintain professionalism, promote integrity and build positive relations with the public.
He said the conduct captured on CCTV directly contravenes these constitutional obligations.
Cherargei called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately interdict and suspend the officers involved to allow for independent investigations.
He also demanded swift administrative action against their commanders and members of the county security team.
He further urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to urgently commence investigations with a view to prosecuting the officers, noting past concerns over delayed action in previous alleged cases of police violence in parts of Nandi County.
The senator said he had engaged the Senate Committee on National Security to initiate a suo moto inquiry into the incident and confirmed that he was in contact with the affected youths to ensure their rights are protected.
Cherargei warned that repeated incidents of alleged police misconduct and brutality risk undermining public confidence in law enforcement, calling on national security leadership to intervene decisively to curb what he described as the re-emergence of rogue policing.
He vowed to pursue accountability for the officers involved, stating that those responsible must face consequences for actions allegedly committed against residents of Nandi County.
