Blood Parliament: 4 Kenyan Filmmakers Arrested Last Night Released, Their Equipment Confiscated
- Four filmmakers linked to the Blood Parliament documentary have been released after being arrested late Friday night
- Police raided their Karen-based studio, confiscating hard drives and production equipment, which the filmmakers will not recover upon release
- Law Society of Kenya (LSK) lawyer Ian Mutiso, who had been leading efforts to secure their release, confirmed the latest development
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Four filmmakers arrested late Friday night, May 3, in connection with the contentious Blood Parliament documentary have been granted release on free bond.
Source: Twitter
What were 4 Nairobi filmmakers accused of?
Nicholas Gichuki Wambugu, Brian Adagala, Mark Karubiu, and Chris Wamae, who took part in producing the documentary, were booked for false publication.
Although the filmmakers are free to go, they will leave custody without their equipment.
Police had seized hard drives and production gear during a raid at their Karen studio where the filmmakers worked.
LSK lawyer Ian Mutiso said the legal team is working relentlessly to safeguard their rights, noting that extensive behind-the-scenes efforts were made to secure their release.
The four were held at Muthaiga and Pangani police stations prior to being released.
How were 4 Nairobi filmmakers arrested?
While speaking to journalist Allan Namu, Wambugu, one of the four who were arrested, recounted the events that led to his arrest.
"I had just finished a shoot at Village Creative in Lavington, where my office is located. Afterward, I planned to head home but decided to visit my friends instead, as we are currently working on projects together. I arrived at Denver's office around 3 p.m. Around 45 minutes later, there was a knock. Denver opened the door to find three men who introduced themselves as DCI officers," Wambugu said.
He explained that the officers then entered the studio, confiscated all their equipment, and escorted them to a double-cabin vehicle.
They were then driven to the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road.
"We spent about four hours there. They asked me what I do, and I told them I’m a filmmaker. Although they didn’t specifically mention the BBC documentary, it was clear the arrest wasn’t random," he added.
Source: Youtube
What did Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association say?
The Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFTPA) had strongly condemned the recent arrests of the filmmakers, describing the action as a serious attack on media freedom.
In a statement, KFTPA chairman Ezekiel Onyango expressed deep concern over the police's handling of the situation and committed to mobilising both legal and institutional support for those detained.
The association demanded full transparency from the authorities while seeking clarification on the charges pressed against the filmmakers.
KFTPA reaffirmed its solidarity with the four filmmakers, calling for unity and calm among the creative community.
KFTPA stated that criminalising filmmakers for performing their duties was unacceptable and urged both creatives and the public to stay vigilant and united in response to the challenges.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
