NAIROBI, Kenya Feb 1– Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has accused the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja of engaging in public relations exercises instead of taking firm legal action against officers accused of brutality in Nandi County, following the alleged assault of young men at Nandi Hills town.
In a statement, Cherargei said administrative action could not substitute criminal accountability, insisting that officers involved in the alleged beating of youths playing a pool game must be arrested and prosecuted.
“Administrative action cannot be taken on criminal actions as per the law. This is a pure public relations exercise meant for Kenyans to forget,” Cherargei said.
The Nandi Senator was referring to an incident in which young men were allegedly assaulted by police officers at Nandi Hills town, despite having committed no offence.
The CCTV footage, filmed on January 10, 2026, shows more than 10 armed police officers storming a pool hall in Nandi Hills town at around 11:51 pm. The officers ordered the young men to lie on the floor before beating them with rungus and kicking them while demanding identification documents.
“The canning and brutalisation of young men playing pool in Nandi Hills town are criminal actions worth arrests and prosecution under criminal law,” he said.
“We need immediate arrest and prosecution of the police officers involved, as well as their superiors who sanctioned or allowed the acts of criminality.”
On Saturday, IG Kanja confirmed that it had taken immediate administrative action against six senior officers linked to the incident. In a statement, the police said the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) had carried out an “exhaustive investigation” after the footage emerged.
Cherargei faulted the police Internal Affairs Unit for what he described as weak responses, arguing that the minimum expectation was for the unit to recommend arrests and prosecution.
“These cheap public relations acts will not be accepted until arrests and prosecutions are done,” he said.
He also criticised the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), accusing it of failing victims who are still undergoing medical treatment and psychological recovery.
“To IPOA, we do not expect these shenanigans of public relations while victims continue to experience trauma and undergo medical recovery,” Cherargei said.
The senator further cited separate cases of alleged police brutality in Tinderet Constituency, where he claimed deaths and assaults had been committed by rogue officers attached to the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU).
“The deaths and brutality in Tinderet Constituency by rogue police officers under RDU must also be punished,” he said.
Cherargei called for accountability at the highest levels, demanding that the Inspector General of Police and IPOA officials appear before the Senate to explain the alleged abuses.
“Bwana IG Kanja and IPOA must appear before the Senate to be held accountable over this abuse of human rights and violation of the rule of law through police brutality and harassment,” he said.
