Sifuna questions arrest of filmmakers associated with BBC documentary
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has condemned the government for targeting filmmakers associated with the BBC’s controversial documentary Blood Parliament, which exposed the killing of protesters during last year’s Gen-Z demonstrations.
Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Thursday, May 8, 2025, Sifuna condemned the arrests, saying the documentary portrayed events that genuinely occurred within Parliament grounds and should not be censored.
Sifuna pointed out that the documentary did not fabricate any events and was consistent with coverage by several local media outlets. He questioned why young filmmakers were being punished for documenting events witnessed by many, including himself.
He emphasised that democratic governance must include space for freedom of expression and press freedom, insisting the state’s actions are unconstitutional.
“A nation will not develop without reinforcing democratic governance and the rule of law. Democratic governance is such that you cannot go after the BBC for showing what happened in Parliament during the Gen-Z protests,” Sifuna stated.
Adding;
“Why are young people being arrested for producing a film about events that we all saw? I was there in Parliament, and we all saw it happen. The BBC is not fabricating anything. All media houses covered this event. So why are you arresting people for expressing themselves? That is running contrary to the Constitution.”
The documentary Blood Parliament was released by the BBC on Monday, April 28, 2025. It has sparked renewed outrage over the June 25, 2024, protests against the controversial Finance Bill, during which several young Kenyans were killed.
Using 3D modelling, forensic video analysis, and eyewitness testimonies, the 37-minute film revealed how both police and military officers opened fire on unarmed civilians outside the National Assembly.
Among the victims identified in the documentary are David Chege, Ericsson Mutisya, and Eric Shieni. The film names the soldier who fatally shot Shieni as a member of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), raising serious questions about the military’s involvement in quelling civilian protests.
4 arrested
Shortly after the documentary gained traction, four Kenyan filmmakers—Nicholas Gichuki Wambugu, Brian Adagala, MarkDenver Karubiu, and Chris Wamae—were arrested on the night of Friday, May 2, 2025, from their studio in Karen under unclear circumstances.
According to their lawyer Ian Mutiso, the four were separated after the arrest, with Gichuki and Adagala taken to Pangani Police Station, while Karubiu and Wamae were detained at Muthaiga Police Station.
The filmmakers were later released on a free bond after spending a night in custody.
Their arrest sparked widespread condemnation from civil society, media watchdogs, and the general public, who fear it signals a disturbing crackdown on press freedom and independent storytelling in Kenya.
