Questions mount over alleged arrest of four filmmakers

The alleged Friday arrest of four Kenyan filmmakers reportedly associated with the BBC documentary Blood Parliament has raised alarm among civil rights advocates, with questions mounting over the legality and motive behind the detentions.

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. 

Police have yet to comment on the arrests.

The four—Nicholas Gichuki, Chris Wamae, Brian Adagala, and Mark Karubiu—were reportedly taken into custody on Friday night from their studio in Karen, Nairobi.

They were later held at Muthaiga and Pangani police stations. Authorities have not publicly stated the reasons for their arrest.

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.

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.”