ADVERT 
ADVERTThe National Youth Service (NYS) has broken its silence over a viral video appearing to show one of its officers assaulting a civilian, clarifying that the footage does not depict a recent incident.
In a statement issued on Sunday, October 4, 2026, the NYS said the altercation captured in the widely circulated video occurred approximately two years ago and was reported to the relevant authorities at the time.
The clarification comes as social media users continue to share the footage, with some posts giving the impression that the alleged assault had occurred recently.
“The National Youth Service (NYS) is aware of a video currently circulating on social media depicting an altercation involving an NYS officer and a civilian,” the service said.
NYS explained that the incident had been brought to the attention of the relevant authorities and dealt with through established administrative and legal procedures.
ADVERTThe service also sought to distance itself from any suggestion that violence or abuse of authority is tolerated within its ranks.
NYS said it remains a disciplined service founded on respect for the law, professionalism, integrity and responsible conduct.
It stressed that misconduct by its personnel is not condoned and that behaviour inconsistent with the service’s values is subject to appropriate disciplinary and legal mechanisms.
“Members of the public are therefore urged not to be alarmed or misled by the recirculation of this old video as though it were a recent incident,” NYS said.
The statement comes against the backdrop of growing concern over videos depicting violence and misconduct circulating rapidly across social media platforms, often without sufficient context on when or where the footage was recorded.
NYS urged the public to exercise caution before treating viral clips as breaking news, particularly where the original date and circumstances of an incident cannot be established.
NYS clarification follows another viral assault video
The NYS statement came shortly after another disturbing video triggered public attention after appearing to show several young women threatening and assaulting another woman inside a public bathroom.
Riara University subsequently announced an internal review after reports emerged that some of the individuals appearing in the footage could be students at the institution.
The university said the alleged incident occurred off-campus but stressed that its students could still face consequences where their conduct violates institutional rules and values.
Riara University unequivocally condemned violence, intimidation, bullying, harassment and misconduct, saying such behaviour is inconsistent with its standards.
The two incidents have once again highlighted the speed at which disturbing footage can spread online—and the danger of drawing conclusions from videos without establishing their date, location and circumstances.
For the NYS, however, the message is clear: the viral assault footage currently circulating is old, the matter was dealt with at the time, and it should not be mistaken for a fresh incident involving the service.
As social media continues to shape Kenya’s news cycle ahead of the 2027 General Election, authorities and members of the public are increasingly under pressure to distinguish genuine breaking news from old footage resurfacing without context.
