Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has strongly criticized a recent episode in Nandi County where police officers were seen allegedly assaulting a civilian, promising swift legal action against those responsible.
Speaking in Mombasa, Murkomen described the actions in the viral video as “barbaric, unacceptable, unconstitutional and illegal.”
“That is barbaric, unacceptable, unconstitutional and illegal,” he stated. “I must say that is not what we expect of our police service. The issue of police brutality is an issue that we must deal with and deal with very firmly.”
The footage, which has sparked widespread outrage on social media, reportedly shows uniformed officers attacking a civilian, raising alarm among human rights organisations and community leaders who are calling for an immediate investigation.
While Murkomen has previously defended officers acting within the law, he emphasized that misconduct cannot be overlooked. “I have professed myself in the past that we shall defend police officers who find themselves facing prosecution because of doing their work,” he explained.
“But it’s not our job to defend police who engage in criminal activities. Any officer found to have engaged in that act will be arrested, charged and lose their jobs.”
The CS confirmed that he has been in contact with Inspector General Douglas Kanja, who has tasked the Internal Affairs Unit with investigating the case.
Preliminary accounts suggest the incident took place on January 10, and the IAU will collect statements from witnesses, the victim, and the officers involved.
Human rights groups welcomed the CS’s remarks but stressed that the investigation must lead to real consequences. They pointed out that complaints over excessive police force remain common, especially during traffic operations and public order enforcement.
Several community and political leaders have demanded transparency and accountability, noting that incidents like this undermine public trust in law enforcement.
Murkomen said the government is committed to upholding the law and ensuring that policing remains professional. “We cannot build a secure country if the very officers meant to protect citizens are seen to violate the law,” he added.
Details on the number of officers under review or the expected timeline for preliminary findings have not been released. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also condemned the episode, urging that the officers involved face immediate arrest and prosecution.
“I am deeply disturbed by the incident where police officers violently assaulted young men whose only ‘crime’ was playing pool. Let it be stated clearly: playing a game is not a crime,” Owino said in a statement released on Friday.
