The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has responded to a viral video showing the reported brutal assault of young men by police officers at a pool hall in Nandi Hills, Nandi County, saying it has launched investigations into the incident.

The authority moved to address the matter after the eight-minute surveillance footage spread rapidly on social media, triggering public outrage and renewed scrutiny of police conduct.

In a statement on Friday, January 16, 2026, IPOA said it had taken cognisance of the disturbing video circulating on social media showing police misconduct in Nandi Hills.

The watchdog confirmed that it had commenced investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and the conduct of the officers involved.

“IPOA wishes to assure the public that the matter is under active investigation, and appropriate action will be taken upon conclusion of the inquiries,” the statement read.

The authority further urged members of the public with any information related to the incident to come forward, noting that accountability remains key to restoring public confidence in the National Police Service.

The footage at the centre of the storm has continued to make rounds on platforms such as X, Facebook and WhatsApp, drawing condemnation from Kenyans across the political divide.

Captured by CCTV cameras inside the recreational facility, the video shows uniformed police officers armed with guns and batons storming the pool hall where 12 young men were playing pool.

The officers are seen ordering all the patrons to lie on the floor before proceeding to assault some of them with batons.

Audio from the surveillance system captures one officer demanding identification documents from the young men. Time stamps on the footage indicate that the incident occurred on January 10, 2026, in the early hours of the morning.

Uproar over police assault

The situation appears to escalate when one man attempts to leave the premises. In response, several officers are seen descending on him, raining blows as others lie helplessly on the floor.  

As the clip went viral, pressure mounted on police leadership, with growing calls for Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to take swift action against the officers involved.

Human rights activists and members of the public have questioned why such an operation would be conducted in a recreational facility and why it degenerated into violence.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has been among the most vocal leaders to condemn the incident, terming it a blatant abuse of power.

“I want to strongly condemn these acts of police brutality, criminality, and abuse of human rights perpetrated by police officers in Nandi Hills Town,” Senator Cherargei said.

The senator demanded immediate administrative action against the officers captured in the footage, arguing that accountability must precede investigations.

 “Demand that the Inspector General of Police Kanja should immediately interdict and suspend the said police officers for this act of impunity. This also paves the way for the independent investigations to be carried out,” he stated.

Cherargei further noted that the officers’ actions appeared to contravene Article 244 of the Constitution, which requires police to respect human rights, uphold professionalism and maintain discipline.

 He has urged the Senate Committee on National Security to urgently take up the matter and ensure justice for the victims.