Four filmmakers connected to the BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood Parliament were arrested in Nairobi on May 2, 2025, in a late-night raid by Kenyan police. The arrested individuals — Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, Mark Karubiu, and Chris Wamae — had their studio raided in Karen, with hard drives and filming equipment seized.
The documentary investigates the fatal shooting of three unarmed protestors during anti-tax demonstrations outside Parliament in June 2024. Using open-source intelligence and phone footage, the film reconstructs the deadly events that shocked the nation.
Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi and lawyer Ian Mutiso confirmed that the filmmakers were held at Pangani and Muthaiga police stations. No official charges have been disclosed.
The arrests have triggered national and international backlash, with critics calling it an attack on press freedom and an attempt to silence investigative journalism. The BBC has not released a formal statement on the arrests but stands by its reporting.
The Blood Parliament documentary has gone viral, surpassing 5 million views online in less than a week. Meanwhile, Kenyan authorities accuse the BBC of biased reporting and claim they weren’t given a chance to respond.
This case has reignited debate about media freedom in Kenya, especially in the face of growing governmental scrutiny of the press.
