Kenyan filmmakers seized, detained by police over links to BBC’s ‘Blood Parliament’ documentary

As the globe marks World Press Freedom Day today, the spotlight is now beamed on Kenya authorities following last night dramatic arrest of four young Kenyans accused of taking part in a BBC documentary and exposé dubbed “Blood Parliament” revealing bloody confrontations between security officers and youthful Kenya protesters in Parliament on June 25, 2025.

They have, however, been released this morning on a free police bond but their devices were confiscated and withheld by police.

They were in police custody following their arrest yesterday at night in a dramatic raid at their studio in Karen, Nairobi.

The four include Nicholas Wambugu, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Christopher Wamae.

There has been growing voices over excessive police force targeting media practitioners in their line of duty threatening media freedom as well as the safety and security of journalists.

The exposé sparked local and global outrage both online and verbally days after it was released.

The damning documentary details the June 25, 2024 anti-tax protests that ended in bloodshed, identifying some of the police officers who shot or seen shooting three protesters outside the Kenyan Parliament.

Lawyer and Human Rights activist Hussein Khalid of Vocal Africa too said “the filmmakers were being held in Pangani and Muthaiga Police Stations.” “It seems this government has panicked and is making school kid mistakes. They are inviting people back to the streets.”

Police have not commented on the arrests. When the documentary was released last week, a planned community screening was blocked, sparking public outrage.

According to a statement by Ezekiel ‘Ezy’ Onyango, Chairperson of the Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFPTA), their equipment and data storage devices were seized during the operation.

“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,” reads the statement in part.

“The Act, particularly Section 23, criminalizes false publication and has previously come under fire from digital rights groups for being vague and open to abuse.”

While the specific content allegedly in violation remains unclear, sources close to the situation suggest the arrest may be linked to a recent documentary project exploring politically sensitive topics.

According to Wambui Gichuhi, a lawyer with the human rights watchdog Article 19 East Africa, “This case raises critical questions about freedom of expression and creative independence in Kenya.”

“To my fellow creatives and the public, let me be clear: The criminalisation of filmmakers for carrying out their work is unacceptable. I know you’re frustrated, distressed, and upset, but I urge you to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive as we engage with the authorities to secure their immediate release,” he says.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) have issued statements calling for immediate access to legal representation for the accused and a public explanation of the charges.

Onyango has assured the public that the association is “fully engaged” and “will not relent” until the filmmakers are released.

The BBC report singled out police officers believed to have killed three protestors after analysing over 5,000 images to piece together the sequence of events on June 25, 2024.

Members of Parliament condemned BBC for the documentary, with some saying the broadcaster was pushing a foreign agenda. “BBC is funded by taxpayers’ money in Britain, meaning that it is funded to push the foreign agenda internationally. We want to know if the BBC is speaking as a mouthpiece of the government and the people of Britain or what it is doing,” said Dagoreti MP John Kiarie.

Kiarie claimed the BBC documentary is out to arm-twist the Kenyan government to rescind the condition placed by parliament that the British Army soldiers who commit crimes in the country must be charged locally.

“Could it be an attempt to arm-twist this country so that they can rescind the rider that we put on the training of BATUK units in Kenya and perpetuate a history of extractive economy, oppressive and exploitative economy in an unfair trade balance between Kenya and the UK?”, he’d said.

But others lawmakers like Millie Odhiambo of Suba North constituency called for thorough investigations and said the government should not seek to gag the press.

“I think we have not handled the issue well, and that is why people are coming from outside to document the events of that day. We do not need the BBC to tell us that something is wrong. We have a very angry young generation and we cannot bury our heads in the sand,” she said adding, “We think we are moving on but there are many young people who have not necessarily moved on. I appeal that we set up a select committee to deal with the the after effect of the Finance Bill 2024.”

“A screening of BBC Africa Eye’s ‘Blood Parliament in Kenya’ was cancelled due to pressure from the authorities,” a BBC spokesperson said.

The documentary also renewed calls for the arrest of the police officers behind the brutality witnessed during the protests.