The National Police Service (NPS) has launched an internal investigation into the conduct of officers captured on video forcefully arresting a man living with a disability during the June 25 demonstrations in Nakuru.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja directed the Service’s Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to investigate the incident, giving the unit seven days to complete its inquiry and submit a report for further action.
In a statement issued on Friday, the NPS acknowledged the viral footage circulating online and said the officers’ actions, as seen in the video, appeared inconsistent with the Service’s operational standards.
“The Service condemns all forms of excessive force and any breach of established procedures. We remain committed to professionalism and the protection of human rights,” the statement said.
The incident occurred during nationwide demonstrations held to mark the anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
The widely shared video shows a man who uses crutches attempting to move away from a police barricade with the help of another individual before a police vehicle carrying armed officers arrives at the scene.
As officers rush towards them, the man assisting him escapes while the disabled protester, unable to move quickly, falls after losing his crutches. Several officers are then seen restraining him and carrying him into a waiting police vehicle.
The footage triggered widespread criticism from Kenyans, human rights groups and disability rights advocates, who questioned the level of force used during the arrest and called for accountability.
In response to the public outcry, Kanja instructed the Internal Affairs Unit to conduct what the Service described as a thorough, impartial and professional investigation.
The NPS said disciplinary or other appropriate action will be taken depending on the outcome of the inquiry. It also appealed to members of the public to provide any information that may assist investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
