Four filmmakers linked to BBC’s 'Blood Parliament' exposé released

The Civic Freedoms Forum (CFF) has condemned the arrest and detention of four young filmmakers in Nairobi, calling it a dangerous warning to Kenya’s creative and media communities.

The four – Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Chris Wamae were arrested Friday night at their studio in Karen.

Police did not explain the reason for the arrest, and no formal charges have been filed.

The group was, however, released Saturday morning without charge, but the authorities retained their devices.

CFF said the arrest appeared to be a direct response to the BBC Africa Eye documentary 'Blood Parliament', which alleged that Kenyan security forces used live ammunition during the June 2024 anti-tax protests.

"Their arrest, believed to be politically motivated, raises grave concerns about the increasing weaponization of law enforcement against independent journalism and documentary filmmaking," the forum stated.

The filmmakers were held in separate stations, with Nicholas and Brian detained at Pangani and the others at Muthaiga.

Police are reportedly planning to charge them with publishing false information and cyberbullying.

Rights groups say the arrest has no legal basis.

"These detentions, carried out without publicly available warrants or formal charges, signal a chilling escalation in the erosion of media freedoms in Kenya," CFF said.

Filmmakers’ representatives have also voiced their outrage.

The Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFPTA) termed the arrests a "troubling attack on creative freedom."

"We stand in full solidarity with our arrested colleagues, their families, and the entire creative community," said Ezekiel Onyango, the association’s chairman.

The incident has sparked fresh debate about press freedom in the country, especially as it came just before as people are marking World Press Freedom Day.

CFF called the timing "a deliberate affront to the values enshrined in our Constitution and the international conventions Kenya has ratified."

"This crackdown is not just about four individuals is a warning to all journalists, filmmakers, and truth-tellers in Kenya.We cannot, and must not, allow fear to take the place of facts, or repression to replace reporting," CFC added.

The arrest comes in the wake of a 40-minute documentary released by BBC Africa Eye, which investigates the killing of unarmed protesters during anti-tax demonstrations outside Kenya’s Parliament in June 2024.

The documentary centers on the death of Eric Shieni, a finance student at the University of Nairobi, who was fatally shot while leaving the protest.

According to the investigation, BBC Africa Eye reviewed more than 150 images captured before and after Shieni’s death.

The network claims to have identified the officer responsible, alleging he is a member of Kenya’s armed forces.

However, the officer’s identity has not been officially confirmed, and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) have denied any involvement.

The film has sparked widespread public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the security forces' actions during the demonstrations.

Human rights advocates and critics have demanded accountability for the deaths and injuries of peaceful protesters.