Fresh CCTV Footage Shows Police Allegedly Assaulting Youths at Kikuyu Pool Hall

Surveillance camera footage depicting law enforcement officers allegedly using force against young men at a recreational facility has surfaced online, reigniting public debate about police conduct in Kenya.

The footage, recorded on Friday, January 23, at approximately 11:00 PM, shows three uniformed officers entering a pool hall in Kikuyu, a town in Kiambu County. Sources familiar with the location have indicated the officers are believed to be from Nderi Police Post.

The one-minute, 38-second recording captures the interior of the establishment, characterized by green walls and a pool table where two young men were engaged in a game before the arrival of law enforcement personnel.

According to the video, three officers wearing green uniforms entered the premises simultaneously. The young men present ceased their activities as the officers positioned themselves near the entrance and around the pool table.

The surveillance footage appears to show the officers conducting what initially resembles a routine inspection, with civilians complying with instructions to stand near walls and doorways while being questioned.

However, the situation escalated when the video captured one officer striking a young man in the abdomen with a baton, while another officer appeared to slap the same individual multiple times. A second young man was also subjected to similar treatment before both individuals were placed in handcuffs.

The footage concludes with the officers collecting pool balls from the table and escorting the detained men to what appeared to be a waiting police vehicle.

This incident follows a similar occurrence earlier this month in Nandi Hills, where eight minutes of security camera footage showed uniformed officers entering a pool hall and forcing twelve men to the ground. That January 10 incident, which went viral on social media platforms, showed officers demanding identification documents and beating a patron who attempted to leave the premises.

The Nandi Hills case drew condemnation from public officials, including Nandi Hills Senator Samson Cherargei and Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, who called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to take immediate action.

As of press time, the National Police Service has not released an official statement addressing either the Kikuyu or Nandi Hills incidents.

The emergence of this latest footage has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many Kenyans expressing concern about police conduct during what appear to be routine operations at entertainment venues.