Kenyan Authorities Block Screening of BBC’s ‘Blood Parliament’ Documentary Amid Growing Outrage

Kenyan authorities have halted the public screening of a controversial BBC documentary, Blood Parliament, which exposes police brutality during last year’s anti-tax demonstrations outside Parliament buildings in Nairobi.

The documentary was scheduled for a screening and panel discussion at Unseen Nairobi cinema on Monday evening but was abruptly cancelled following what the BBC described as “pressure from the authorities.”

“We are very disappointed not to have been able to share the documentary and panel discussion as planned. In the meantime, audiences can watch the film on BBC Africa’s YouTube channel,” a BBC spokesperson said.

The film, which has already garnered over two million views on YouTube within a day of its release, meticulously pieces together the violent events of June 25, 2024. Investigators analyzed over 5,000 images to identify both the victims and the shooters, painting a chilling portrait of the state’s heavy-handed response to protests against the Finance Bill 2024.

Among those implicated is Job Kaboi from Nairobi’s Central Police Station, who was seen allegedly coordinating officers to use lethal force. Another masked officer is believed to have fatally shot David Chege, 39, and Erickson Mutisya, 25, near Parliament buildings. The documentary also points to a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer responsible for the killing of 26-year-old University of Nairobi student Eric Shieni, who was shot while fleeing.

Last year’s protests, mainly led by Kenyan youth known as Gen-Zs, were met with brutal crackdowns, leaving more than 60 people dead nationwide. Despite widespread outcry, no comprehensive investigations into police misconduct have been made public.

Following the documentary’s release, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) revealed it had completed 22 investigations related to the protest deaths. However, IPOA blamed police non-cooperation and witness fear for slow progress. Out of 60 reported deaths, 36 cases are still under investigation, two have reached court, and several files remain under review at the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan disclosed that authorities also documented 233 injuries from the protests.

Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is expected to issue a formal response on Tuesday.

The move to block the screening has reignited conversations about accountability, freedom of expression, and justice for the victims of police violence in Kenya.

In other news:Tragedy in Ang’ata Barikoi: Five Shot Dead in Land Protest Clashes

Kenyan Authorities Block Screening of BBC’s ‘Blood Parliament’ Documentary Amid Growing Outrage