Filmmakers linked to shocking documentary released on bail

The four filmmakers who were arrested in Nairobi on Friday, May 2, 2025. [UGC]

The court has granted anticipatory bail of Sh10,000 each to four filmmakers linked to the BBC's Blood Parliament documentary pending ongoing investigations.

Milimani Principal Magistrate Wambo Otieno on Wednesday ordered the release of Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, MarkDenver Karubiu and Chris Wamae, who are currently under investigation.

The court further directed the four to appear at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on May 21, 2025, for further questioning while accompanied by their lawyers.

The four were arrested on May 3, 2025 and taken to Muthaiga and Pangani police stations in Nairobi.

Their arrests came just days after the BBC released a 40-minute investigation revealing how Kenyan security forces opened fire on anti-tax protesters outside Parliament in June 2024, killing and injuring several people.

The documentary sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of police conduct.

Human rights group condemned the arrest, which came on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, and accused authorities of threatening freedom of journalists.

Civil organisations claimed the arrests were politically motivated and raised concerns over rising 'weaponisation' of law enforcement against independent journalism and documentary filmmakers.

In a joint statement, the groups urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to publicly disclose the legal grounds for the arrests.

''That this blatant act of intimidation occurred on the eve of World Press Freedom Day is not just ironic - it is a deliberate affront to the values enshrined in our Constitution and the international conventions Kenya has ratified," the statement read.

The filmmakers were released on free bond following public outcry about their arrest.