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Four Kenyan filmmakers involved in the BBC documentary *Blood Parliament* have been arrested, triggering public outrage just days after the film’s release.
The documentary focuses on the violent anti-tax protests that took place on June 25, 2024, and exposes the actions of police officers who shot and killed three protesters outside the Kenyan Parliament.
The filmmakers were taken into custody on Friday night from their studio in Karen, and their equipment and hard drives were seized. Activists monitoring the situation confirmed the arrests and reported that the filmmakers—Nicholas Wambugu, Brian Adagala, MarkDenver Karubiu, and Chris Wamae—were booked into separate police stations.
Boniface Mwangi, an activist, tweeted about the arrests, revealing that the filmmakers were detained at Pangani and Muthaiga Police Stations. He criticized the government, stating, “It seems this government has panicked and is making school kid mistakes. They are inviting people back to the streets.”
The police have not yet made a public statement regarding the arrests. The release of the documentary last week had already sparked controversy when a planned community screening was blocked by authorities.
Blood Parliament highlights the actions of police officers who are believed to have killed three protesters, based on an analysis of over 5,000 images that reconstruct the tragic events of June 25, 2024.
Some Members of Parliament have condemned the BBC for the documentary, accusing the broadcaster of promoting a foreign agenda.
Dagoreti MP John Kiarie, for example, claimed that the BBC’s funding by UK taxpayers meant it was serving foreign interests. He argued that the documentary was an attempt to pressure the Kenyan government into reversing its decision to require local prosecution of British Army soldiers who commit crimes in Kenya.
However, other MPs, such as Millie Odhiambo from Suba North, called for an independent investigation and urged the government not to silence the press. “We cannot bury our heads in the sand,” she said, emphasizing that the country’s young generation remains frustrated and disillusioned.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed that a planned screening of the Blood Parliament documentary had been canceled due to pressure from the authorities. The documentary has reignited calls for the arrest of the police officers responsible for the violence during the protests.
