Four Kenyan filmmakers associated with the controversial BBC documentary Blood Parliament have been granted anticipatory bail of Ksh10,000 each, following recent arrests that sparked public outrage.
The Milimani Law Court issued the order today and directed Nicholas Wambugu, Chris Wamae, Markdenver Karubiu, and Brian Adagala to appear before the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on 21st May 2025. Their case will be mentioned in court on 28th May 2025.
Their lawyer, Ian Mutiso, confirmed that the court also barred the DCI from arresting or harassing the four, who have drawn attention for their perceived link to the investigative piece exposing alleged state brutality during the anti-Finance Bill protests on 25th June last year.
A leaked search warrant showed police were seeking evidence to connect the filmmakers to the BBC production, planning to charge them under the Cybercrimes Act. This is despite the BBC stating that the four were not involved in the documentary’s filming.
The filmmakers were first arrested on 2nd May following a raid on their Karen-based studio, during which police seized equipment and hard drives. They were held overnight at Muthaiga and Pangani Police Stations and later released on a free bond after a public outcry.