Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has raised concerns after an undated video surfaced on social media, showing police officers assaulting youthwho were playing a game of pool.
In the disturbing video, the men are seen enjoying the billiard game when police officers walk in suddenly.
The officers then order them to lie on the floor, an order they immediately comply with without any hesitations. They are then asked to produce their National Identification (ID) cards, but before they could even produce the document or explain themselves, the officers start beating them with clubs.
The police officers, in full police attire, proceed to beat the youth in turn, countless times, for about five minutes, warning them against playing pool during late hours.
A section of Kenyans on social media have criticised the police officers’ conduct durinh the incident, insisting that the use of force upon citizens who were complying with their orders was uncalled for.
According to MP Babu Owino, the incident occured at 11:51 pm last Saturday, January 10, and the officers involved were from Nandi Hills Police Station.
“Let it be stated clearly: playing a game is not a crime. Our youth 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, avoid crime, and build talent,” the MP said on ihis Facebook page.
The legislator, a fan of pool himself, said that the police officers had set a dangerous precedent in criminalizing games, “yet these same games have the potential to produce world champions and create opportunities that can change lives.”
The lawmaker, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, further said that no law requires Kenyan citizens to carry their IDs at all times, faulting the officers for their conduct.
“No law in Kenya requires citizens to carry their IDs at all times. No law prohibits people from playing games at night. Even where a law is alleged to have been broken, the police cannot act as both arresting officers and prosecutors, nor can they serve as judges.”
He said that Kenya is a constitutional democracy founded on the principle of presumption of innocence; and that every Kenyan is innocent until proven guilty. “Brutality and violence have no place in law enforcement,” the MP said.
MP Babu Owino is now calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the police officers involved in the assault.
