A brief video clip of a civilian wrestling and punching a police officer at a Nakuru police station has sparked debate on the internet.

The officer slaps the civilian in the 10-second video, who then punches him before a fight breaks out.Other officers and civilians at the station quickly intervene and put an end to the brawl.

The fighting took place at the crime reporting desk at the Nakuru Central Police Station in Nakuru city, according to The Nation.

"When the incident occurred, the man and others had arrived to report a crime," a source told the Nation.

The incident was confirmed by Nakuru County Police Commander Peter Mwanzo.

"The incident occurred at the Nakuru Central Police Station, but it is still being investigated. I have requested that the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) share details of the incident so that I can understand what occurred "Mr Mwanzo stated to the Nation.

He stated that the civilian had been arrested and was being held while investigations were ongoing.

The video begins with the civilian being slapped in the face by the visibly enraged police officer, followed by a fistfight.The short man is seen wrestling the unarmed officer to the ground.

Witnesses, including other officers, appeared taken aback by the incident.On Thursday morning, a user going by the name Abdulahi Adan shared the video on Facebook.

During the altercation, the police officer was heard telling the civilian that he would not be leaving the police station.

"I assure you, hutoki... hutoki" (You will not leave this place, I assure you), the officer is heard saying to the man.

However, the man responds, "What have I done to deserve a slap?" "I have done nothing."

Some voices were heard warning the attacker that fighting a cop in a police station was suicidal.

It is unclear what happened to the civilian after that.

Social media users were shocked by the incident, with some sympathizing with the civilian and others making jokes about it.

""It was not good for the police officer to slap him; he started the fight because he provoked him; I only hope he managed to leave the police station safely," wrote John Abdi.

El Patron Raju, a Facebook user, said: "The police officer was the first to assault the man. The man should simply be escorted home.