Filmmakers police link to BBC ‘Blood Parliament’ story released after night arrest
Four young Kenyans police accuse of involvement in the BBC Africa Eye’s 40-minute documentary, Blood Parliament, have been released on a free bond after spending the night in different city police cells.
This came as the BBC on Saturday said the four filmmakers were not involved in the making of the documentary.
“We have been made aware of the arrest of four journalists in Kenya. To confirm, they were not involved in any way in the making of BBC Africa Eye’s Blood Parliament documentary,” the BBC Press Office said in a statement.
The four was arrested on Friday night, just days after the documentary exposed the killing of peaceful demonstrators during the June 2024 anti-tax protests where some people entered Parliament’s compound.
The damning exposé, which aired earlier this week, identifies several security officers, who were alleged to have shot dead at least three unarmed protesters.
According to their lawyer, Ian Mutiso, the four filmmakers— Nicholas Gichuki and Brian Adagala, were held at Pangani Police Station, while Mark Denver Karubiu and Chris Wamae were held at Muthaiga Police Station.
The four were released minutes after 10am on Saturday May 3, after an uproar over their arrest.
Mr Mutiso said he was initially told that none of the four were in Pangani, but later, under pressure, police confirmed that Nicholas and Brian were indeed there. He then went to Muthaiga where he was told the other two, Mark Denver and Chris Wamae, were being held.
The film has attracted international attention for its graphic depiction of state violence and its efforts to hold perpetrators to account.
Mr Mutiso told journalists outside Muthaiga Police Station that he will pursue charges against the police for the arrest and for the confiscation of video and other equipment.
“The police know that for them to get their hands on such material or equipment, they need to make a miscellaneous application in court and for my clients to be allowed a chance to have their counsel present and the case heard. If the police try to use any material obtained from equipment seized in any other manner, we will have them struck from the record immediately,” said Mr Mutiso.
Nicholas thanked Kenyans on social media and his family for standing in solidarity with them.
“We thank all of you who sent messages about our arrest on all social media platforms,” he said.
On Monday, Kenyan officials blocked a public screening of the documentary in what many see as an attempt to silence the investigation and prevent further scrutiny. The BBC confirmed that the screening was abruptly cancelled after local authorities intervened.
“The screening was stopped at the last minute under pressure from the government,” the BBC said in a statement.
The Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFTPA) chairman Ezekiel Onyango earlier confirmed the arrest of four Kenyan filmmakers, expressing deep concern over the arrests.
“I can confirm that they are in police custody. I have personally visited them at Pangani police station where Nicholas and Brian are being held and Muthaiga police station where Mark and Christopher are in custody. We have been granted permission to see them tomorrow,” he said.
Mr Onyango noted that this is an affront to the freedom of expression and media freedom guaranteed in the Constitution. The association reiterated that its mandate is to advocate for the rights and welfare of filmmakers and urged the government to uphold constitutional freedoms.
“To my fellow creatives and the public let me make this clear. The criminalisation of filmmakers for carrying out their work is unacceptable. I know you are frustrated, distressed and upset but I urge you to remain calm, vigilant and supportive as we engage with the authorities to secure the immediate release,” he said.
The association revealed that the filmmakers are facing charges of publishing false information and cyberbullying — allegations that raise serious concerns about the misuse of legal provisions to suppress freedom of expression.
“We have been informed that they are facing charges related to publishing false information and cyberbullying, and we call on the relevant authorities to provide full transparency regarding these charges and the conditions under which the filmmakers are being held,” he said.
KFTPA further called for full transparency from the relevant authorities regarding the nature of these charges, the evidence presented, and the conditions under which the filmmakers are being detained.
“KFTPA stands in full solidarity with our arrested colleagues their families and the entire creative community. We are mobilising legal and institutional support to ensure that justice is served, their safety is guaranteed and the right of all filmmakers to create independently and without fear is upheld,” he said.
Their arrest has sparked outrage online, with supporters rallying under the hashtag #FreeTheFilmmakers, calling for their immediate release and condemning what they term an attack on creative expression.
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