The National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has strongly condemned the reported mistreatment of a man with a physical disability by police officers during the June 25 demonstrations in Nakuru County, describing the incident as “dehumanising”, unconstitutional and a serious violation of the rights of persons with disabilities.

In a statement issued on Friday, June 26, 2026, the Council said it had taken note of widely circulated videos and images showing uniformed police officers reportedly forcefully snatching the man’s crutches before manhandling him during the demonstrations.

The footage, which has attracted widespread condemnation on social media, appears to show officers forcibly removing the mobility aid before restraining the man, leaving him unable to move independently.

The Council said the officers’ actions went far beyond a simple lapse in judgement.

“In the video clip, the said police officers are seen forcibly and violently snatching the crutches, and manhandling him with utter disregard for his physical condition, safety, and dignity,” the statement read.

“The Council condemns this conduct in the strongest and most unequivocal terms. What is depicted is not a lapse in judgment. It is a serious violation of the law.”

The NCPWD emphasised that for a person living with a physical disability, a mobility aid is not merely an object but an extension of the body that enables independence, movement, and dignity.

“Its forcible removal is an act of deliberate cruelty,” the Council stated.

Calls for IPOA investigation

Following the incident, the Council has called on the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to immediately launch investigations into the conduct of the officers captured in the footage.

It wants IPOA to identify every officer involved and recommend appropriate legal action.

The Council also urged the Inspector General of the National Police Service to begin internal disciplinary proceedings against the officers without delay.

According to the Council, public officers found responsible should face the full consequences of the law.

“The Council will pursue every available institutional and legal avenue to ensure that they do. The Council will not remain silent in the face of violence inflicted upon the very persons it exists to protect,” the statement added.

Constitutional rights violated

The NCPWD argued that the incident amounted to multiple constitutional violations.

It cited Article 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination, Article 28 on the right to human dignity, and Article 29, which protects every person from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The Council further referenced Article 21 of the Constitution, which places a duty on the State to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons.

According to the Council, the officers breached these constitutional protections by allegedly throwing the man to the ground, confiscating his mobility aid and leaving him immobile and vulnerable in full public view.

Protection under the Persons with Disabilities Act

The Council also pointed to the Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 4 of 2025, which requires all persons, particularly public officers, to uphold the rights, safety and dignity of persons with disabilities.

It noted that the Act expressly prohibits abuse, violence, exploitation and degrading treatment of persons with disabilities.

The Council argued that the conduct captured in the viral footage directly contravenes those legal protections.

The incident has generated widespread public anger online, with many Kenyans expressing concern over the treatment of vulnerable persons during the June 25 demonstrations.

Human rights advocates have also renewed calls for security agencies to exercise restraint while policing public protests and to ensure that law enforcement officers respect the rights and dignity of all citizens, including persons with disabilities.

The June 25 commemorations, held across various parts of the country, were largely peaceful, although isolated confrontations between demonstrators and police were reported in some areas.