The Civic Freedoms Forum (CFF) has condemned the arrest and detention of four filmmakers—Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Chris Wamae—linked to the explosive BBC documentary Blood Parliament.
The arrests, which occurred at their Karen studio under unclear circumstances, triggered a storm of criticism from civil society and media advocates.
The controversial documentary, which uncovered alleged corruption within Kenya’s Parliament, has faced intense political backlash since its release.
The filmmakers’ detention—reportedly carried out without warrants or formal charges—sparked fears of increasing state hostility toward independent journalism.
“This blatant act of intimidation, occurring on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, is not just ironic—it is a deliberate affront to our constitutional values,” said CFF in a strongly worded statement.
The organization noted that the arrests violated Articles 33 and 34 of the Kenyan Constitution, which protect freedom of expression and media independence, as well as international legal obligations under the African Charter and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The four have since been released, but concerns remain about the apparent political motivation behind their detention.
CFF has called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to disclose the legal grounds for the arrests and demanded immediate inquiries by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and Parliament’s Media and ICT Committee.
“This isn’t just about four filmmakers—it’s a warning to all journalists and truth-tellers,” CFF said, urging solidarity across civil society and the global media community.
As World Press Freedom Day approaches, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of media freedoms in Kenya.
