The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has summoned members of the Mukuru Community Justice Centre following their alleged involvement in the BBC documentary Blood Parliament. The exposé revealed police brutality during the Gen Z protests against the Finance Bill 2024, igniting widespread concerns about press freedom and human rights in Kenya.
The Mukuru Community Justice Centre, known for its advocacy against social injustices, confirmed receiving the summons. Its leadership must appear at the DCI headquarters on Kiambu Road. Although authorities have not clarified the reason, speculation suggests they are targeting individuals linked to the documentary’s production. The organization believes its role in exposing the Kware mutilation case and supporting youth protesters contributed to the summons.
This development comes after the recent arrest of four Kenyan filmmakers—Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, MarkDenver Karubiu, and Chris Wamae—who allegedly helped produce the documentary. Police raided their Karen, Nairobi studio, detained them, and confiscated their equipment. Although they later secured anticipatory bail, concerns persist regarding the government’s approach to press freedom and investigative journalism.
Activists and legal experts have denounced the summons, warning that authorities are escalating their crackdown on individuals collaborating with international media to expose human rights violations. Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi urged Kenyans to stand in solidarity by accompanying the summoned individuals to DCI headquarters. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has also questioned the legality of the arrests and the confiscation of equipment.
The BBC documentary Blood Parliament has revived discussions on police accountability and suppression of dissent in Kenya. The Gen Z protests, which erupted in mid-2024, saw thousands of young Kenyans take to the streets to oppose the Finance Bill, citing economic hardships and government mismanagement. Reports of excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and disappearances during the protests have fueled public outrage.
