OMWENGA: Needed: Sober assessment of police violence in Nandi Hills

The assault on 12 youths by police officers in Nandi Hills is condemnable and demands a firm institutional response. Captured on CCTV, the assault and alleged theft of personal property during the attack on January 10, around midnight raise serious concerns requiring an appropriate response by the government.

At the same time, any response must balance the need for accountability with principles of due process, proportional punishment and institutional reform, rather than focusing solely on punitive outcomes.

First, accountability is non-negotiable. If investigations confirm what we have all seen in the video clip that went viral - that the officers used unnecessary and excessive force, as well as allegations of theft - then the victims deserve justice.

Public confidence in law enforcement depends on consequences for misconduct. Failure to act decisively risks normalising abuse, encouraging impunity and widening the already fragile trust gap between police and communities.

An independent investigation, ideally overseen by external monitoring agencies, is essential to ensure credibility and fairness.

Accountability, however, does not automatically require the harshest possible sanctions in every case. A distinction should be made between degrees of wrongdoing. Officers who planned or led the abuse, used extreme violence, or stole from civilians bear heavier responsibility and may warrant criminal prosecution.

Others who may have acted under poor supervision, crowd dynamics, or unclear operational directives should face administrative sanctions such as suspension, demotion, mandatory retraining, or removal from frontline duties. This tiered approach ensures that punishment is proportionate and targeted rather than indiscriminate.

If the government is serious about ending police misconduct, it must look beyond punishing individual officers and confront the institutional failures that make such incidents predictable.

These are not isolated breakdowns of character. They are symptoms of deeper structural weaknesses that demand urgent reform.

The first place to start is training. Policing in the 21st century cannot rely on outdated, militarised approaches to public order. Officers need practical, continuous instruction in de-escalation, conflict managementand proportional use of force.

This should not be treated as a one-time graduation requirement, but as an ongoing professional obligation.

Leadership accountability is equally critical. Too often, responsibility stops with junior officers, while commanders escape scrutiny even when misconduct becomes a pattern within their units.

That must change. Station commanders and senior officers should be evaluated not only on crime statistics, but also on how well they maintain discipline, protect civilian rights and build trust with the communities they serve.

Technology also offers a powerful tool for reform. Body cameras and digital reporting systems can deter misconduct, protect officers from false accusations and create transparent records of police-civilian encounters.

Equally important is the human side of policing. Many officers operate under extreme stress, long shifts, poor working conditions and poor housing.

Without mental health support and proper welfare systems, burnout becomes inevitable — and mistakes become more likely. Supporting officers is not a luxury; it is a public safety investment.

Finally, institutions like the Independent Policing Oversight Authority cannot be symbolic watchdogs. They must be empowered to deliver timely justice. When citizens see accountability in action, confidence in the police begins to return.

In short, the country must invest in real systemic police reform that both takes care of the police beyond the mediocre efforts and mostly lip service they’ve become accustomed to and prevents abuse before it happens — something Fred Matiang’i says he’ll prioritise if elected as president.

At the human level, both victims and officers are part of the same society. While the youth victims in Nandi Hills deserve redress, medical support and restitution for any stolen property, officers found culpable should also be given pathways for rehabilitation where appropriate.

Professional counselling, ethics training and monitored reintegration into service can be more constructive in some cases than permanent dismissal, particularly for first-time or lower-level offenders. This approach protects careers where possible without trivialising the harm suffered by victims.

Ultimately, justice in this case should aim to restore public trust, deter future misconduct and affirm the principle that police are there to serve, not beat up people.

A response that is firm but fair — punishing proven wrongdoing while avoiding blanket retribution — can demonstrate that accountability and humanity are not mutually exclusive.

Ending careers without addressing the deeper causes of abuse makes no sense in this case.