The Kenya Police Service (KPS) has dismissed claims by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei that senior officers were quietly transferred following the controversial assault incident captured on CCTV in Nandi Hills.
KPS on Thursday, February 6, 2026, flagged the reports as fake after Senator Cherargei earlier in the week strongly condemned the handling of the incident, describing the alleged administrative action against senior officers as a “travesty of justice.”
In a statement on Wednesday, Cherargei faulted the National Police Service (NPS) for what he termed a weak response, accusing the police of transferring officers instead of pursuing disciplinary or criminal proceedings. He shared a document suggesting that several senior officers had been moved following the incident.
Police deny Senator Chergaei’s claims that officers were transferred
According to the purported administrative action, the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Tinderet had been transferred to Lang’ata Sub-County, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Songoh had moved to Central Police Station, and the OCS Nandi Hills had been reassigned to Pangani Police Station.
The document further claimed that the Officer in Charge of the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) at Songoh Camp had been seconded to SGB for further secondment.
Senator Cheragei also attached an earlier statement by the Inspector General in which he had ordered administrative action against multiple local commanders in Tinderet, Songoh, and Nandi Hills after a “disturbing CCTV video” emerged showing youths being assaulted at a pool table venue.
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However, KPS disowned the alleged transfer document, stating it was fake and did not originate from the Service, raising fresh questions over the status of disciplinary action related to the incident.
The development came after Senator Cherargei criticised what he described as a weak response by police leadership, insisting that transfers — rather than disciplinary or criminal action — would amount to shielding those responsible.
He maintained that officers directly involved in the assault were still at large and said legal proceedings had been initiated through the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), alongside a private legal team seeking prosecution and compensation. He also noted that parliamentary oversight processes were underway.
“After the much-hyped administrative action by inspector General of police kanja Douglas against senior police officers who oversaw brutalization and beating of youth for playing a pool game in Nandi hills Town, Nandi County he only ‘rewarded ‘ them by mere transfers instead of disciplinary action and criminal proceedings. This comes as the perpetrators of the heinous crime are still at large. That’s why I dismissed that this was a pure public relations gimmick by the inspector General of police.”
NPS takes action
Senator Cherargei’s remarks followed an earlier directive issued on January 31, 2026, when Inspector General Douglas Kanja ordered immediate administrative action against six senior officers after a suspected assault incident captured on CCTV at a pool venue in Nandi Hills.
In a statement at the time, NPS said the decision was based on investigations by the Internal Affairs Unit after the video circulated online, and that it was later confirmed to have been recorded at a pool hall in Nandi Hills.
The IG accepted the unit’s findings and directed disciplinary measures against the same group of local commanders cited for alleged oversight lapses within their jurisdictions.
Also Read: IG Kanja Gives Orders After Reviewing Footage Showing Officers Assaulting Men Playing Pool
The service said the move was meant to reinforce accountability, stressing zero tolerance for police misconduct, while expressing regret over the incident and extending sympathy to the victims.
However, at the time, the authorities did not disclose what actions would be taken regarding the officers seen on camera inside the pool hall, a gap that has continued to fuel public scrutiny and political pressure over the handling of the case.
Pool assault incident
The assault incident, which occurred on January 10, sparked widespread uproar after CCTV footage emerged showing at least eight police officers storming a pool hall in Nandi Hills and assaulting young men who were playing pool.
In the footage, the officers were seen ordering the youths to lie on the floor and forcing them to hold their national identity cards in their mouths before caning them. The motive behind the assault has not been officially established.
The video triggered sharp public outrage, with human rights groups condemning what they termed a blatant abuse of police power. This prompted NPS to initiate administrative and investigative action into the conduct of the officers involved.
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