Lobby condemns arrest of four filmmakers, demands immediate release

The Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFPTA) has strongly condemned the arrest of four young Kenyan filmmakers by police.

In a statement, the association termed the incident a troubling attack on creative freedom as it called for their immediate release.

Nicholas Wambugu, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Christopher Wamae are said to have been arrested Friday night under unclear circumstances from their studio in Karen.

Police are also said to have seized their equipment and data storage devices during the raid. 

According to the Association’s chairperson, Ezekiel Onyango, Nicholas and Brian are being held at Pangani Police Station, while Mark and Christopher are in custody at Muthaiga Police Station.

“We have been granted permission to see them tomorrow morning (Saturday), and we will provide further updates on their well-being and the circumstances surrounding their arrest,” he stated. 

Security officers are allegedly planning to charge the four filmmakers with offenses related to publishing false information and cyberbullying.

Onyango has demanded full transparency regarding the charges and the conditions of detention, while pledging legal and institutional support for the filmmakers. 

“We stand in full solidarity with our arrested colleagues, their families, and the entire creative community,” he said.

Onyango condemned the criminalisation of filmmakers for their work, calling it “unacceptable,” and urged the public and fellow creatives to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive. 

“We will not relent until our colleagues are safe, heard, and home,” Onyango vowed, thanking supporters who have rallied in solidarity.

Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi said the police also seized equipment and hard drives during the raid.

“The police arrested the filmmakers at their offices and confiscated their tools of work,” Mwangi posted online.

He added that a team of lawyers, including Ian Mutiso, has located the detainees and is working to secure their release.

According to sources familiar with the matter, detectives had been trailing the group for questioning related to the BBC documentary, though no official charges have been filed.

However, in a statement on Saturday from the BBC Press Office, the four filmmakers were not involved in the making of the exposé. 

"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 statement from BBC reads in part. 

Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi also clarified that the four work in his organisation, Sema Ukweli. 

"They are my colleagues at Sema Ukweli and their arrest is worrying because they were not involved in the production of Blood Parliament. Some of the things confiscated belong to our organisation and it's concerning that our government is afraid of the truth," Mwangi posted on Instagram. 

The arrests come in the wake of BBC Africa Eye’s release of a 40-minute exposé alleging that Kenyan security forces used live ammunition on anti-tax protesters outside Parliament during the June 2024 Gen Z protests.

The film has sparked public outrage and drawn international attention to alleged extrajudicial killings.

In response, Director of Public Prosecutions Mulele Ingonga has ordered the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the events surrounding the protests.

Ingonga emphasized the documentary raised “serious concerns” about the use of force, possible misconduct, and violations of public order.

Given that some personnel involved may belong to the military, legal experts are calling for a broader investigation beyond IPOA’s remit.

Still, the DPP stressed the importance of an impartial and transparent probe, stating, “This matter is of public interest and touches the heart of our democratic values.”