The National Police Service (NPS) has responded to public outrage over a viral video showing a police officer viciously assaulting a man, clarifying that the incident occurred in 2018 and not recently, as many Kenyans had believed.

The one-minute clip, which resurfaced and trended on social media on Monday and Tuesday, shows a uniformed officer brutally kicking a man lying on the pavement, even stepping on the victim’s neck as onlookers watch in shock. The disturbing footage ignited a wave of online anger, with users demanding immediate justice and accountability.

But in a statement issued on Tuesday, May 6, Police Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga urged the public to remain calm, stating that the matter had already been dealt with.

“The National Police Service has taken cognisance of a disturbing video circulating in the media, which shows a police officer assaulting a man lying on the ground. The Service wishes to clarify that the incident occurred in 2018, and the officer captured in the clip was identified, with appropriate disciplinary action taken against him,” Nyaga said.

The video’s re-emergence has sparked broader conversations about police conduct in Kenya, a country where law enforcement agencies have repeatedly come under scrutiny for excessive force and abuse of power.

According to a recent report by the International Justice Mission (IJM), one in three Kenyans has experienced some form of police abuse or harassment. The statistics paint a grim picture of the state of policing in the country, with the public’s trust in law enforcement continuing to dwindle.

Adding to the concern is a more recent tragedy: the April 28, 2025 killing of five civilians by General Service Unit (GSU) officers in Angata Barrikoi, Kilgoris, Narok County. The incident occurred during a protest against alleged land grabbing, and has further fueled calls for reform.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, while visiting the affected region, condemned the killings and issued a heartfelt apology to the community. “We do not condone the use of excessive force. The officers involved will face the full force of the law,” Kanja assured, promising the immediate transfer of all GSU officers implicated in the incident.

As Kenyans continue to grapple with the reality of systemic police brutality, many are calling for lasting reforms, improved accountability, and greater transparency from law enforcement authorities.

“Kenyans deserve a police service that protects, not terrorizes them,” said one Nairobi resident reacting to the video. “Clarifications are good, but justice and reform are better.”

The resurfaced video may be from 2018, but the conversation it has reignited is current, urgent, and far from over.