The National Youth Service (NYS) has finally responded to a viral video showing its officers assaulting an unidentified man inside a matatu.
In the video shared by blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, the officers rained heavy blows onto the man after he allegedly asked them to put on their masks.
The officers shouted at the innocent man who tried to block the slaps that landed on his face, as he was no match for the officers.
Another passenger who could not do much in the helpless situation recorded the video.
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Gosh. This is too much now! Our (in)disciplined forces have gone rogue.
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@CisNyakundi) August 7, 2021
NYS officers caught on camera assaulting a Kenyan simply for asking them to wear a mask.
This comes days after police murdered two brothers in Embu. #JusticeForKianjokomaBrothers #RevolutionNow pic.twitter.com/1T9SNUktzn
After the video went viral on social media and became the talk of the town with many Kenyans irked by the officers' actions, the NYS institution had to respond.
“Our attention is drawn to a clip doing rounds in social media, of NYS personnel involved in an altercation with an unidentified man. This action doesn’t portray what we believe in as a service. Our Internal Affairs Unit has already taken disciplinary action against the personnel involved,” NYS tweeted.
Our attention is drawn to a clip doing rounds in social media, of NYS personnel involved in altercation with unidentified man. This action don't portray what we believe in as a SERVICE.Our Internal Affairs Unit has already taken disciplinary action against the personnel involved.
— NYS Kenya (@NYS_Ke) August 7, 2021
In response to Cyprian, NYS somewhat dismissed the claims that the civilian was beaten up for asking the officers to wear masks, insinuating that there could have been some other reason for the outburst.
NYS said they have already taken disciplinary action against the officers involved, noting that the actions are against their core values.
“Wearing a mask! Nothing can be further from the truth. You need to have watched the whole clip. Our Internal Affairs Unit has already taken up a disciplinary action against the personnel involved. This is against our core Values,” read the NYS tweet.
Wearing a mask! Nothing can be further from the truth. You need to have watched the whole clip. Our Internal Affairs Unit has already taken up a disciplinary action against the personnel involved. This is against our core Values.
— NYS Kenya (@NYS_Ke) August 7, 2021
The incident drew mixed reactions from Kenyans with many disapproving of the response NYS gave;
Watching the whole clip justifies him being beaten?
— KHOTSA (@ankokelly) August 7, 2021
Kindly please remind these young men they are not afandes and 2nd they are needy Kenyans who has gotten the golden opportunity to go through NYS to better their lives
— Jeff (@Senstinell) August 7, 2021
Most of NYS are former street kids and reformed criminals imagine the anger they carry against the society. Plus that stereotype of superiority to the same public that they are supposed to protect. Wonder why they did not arrest him if he abused them?
— Thucydides (@Thucydides56) August 7What is that, ``Nothing can be further from the truth,`` that justifies this violence? I doubt anyone has faith in your internal investigation. If your officers knew there would be repercussions for their actions, they wouldn't dare behave that way, least of all in public!
— Tiras Waiyaki Thuku (@TTWaiyaki) August 7, 2021