NAIEOBBI, Kenya– Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has publicly endorsed the BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood Parliament, asserting its depiction of the events on June 25, 2024, is both accurate and necessary for national reckoning.
The documentary investigates the fatal crackdown on protesters during demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024, which culminated in a violent confrontation at Kenya’s Parliament.
The exposé implicates members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the shootings that led to multiple deaths, primarily among young demonstrators.
In a statement, Senator Sifuna, who was present in Parliament during the incident, emphasized the authenticity of the documentary’s content.
“The story of June 25th, 2024, is already written, and as they say, the ink is dry. Those attempting to rewrite it will find it especially difficult because this particular piece of history is written in blood,” he remarked.
He further stated, “Speaking as someone who was present in Parliament that day, the events depicted in the Blood Parliament documentary by BBC Africa Eye are not fabrications. They happened. We all saw it live and on our screens.”
The story of June 25th 2024 is already written and as they say, the ink is dry. Those attempting to rewrite it will find it especially difficult because this particular piece of history is written in blood. Speaking as someone who was present in Parliament that day, the events
The documentary’s release has sparked significant controversy within Kenya.
Authorities reportedly blocked a scheduled screening of the film at Unseen Nairobi cinema, citing pressure from government officials.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the cancellation, attributing it to “pressure from the authorities.”
Despite the pushback, the documentary has received support from various quarters.
The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) commended the BBC for its investigative work, stating, “The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) would like to congratulate the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for its bold journalism that exposed police brutality and killings of innocent young Kenyans during the protests against the Finance Bill last year.”
Conversely, some political figures have criticized the documentary.
Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma suggested revoking the BBC’s license in Kenya, labeling the documentary as “twisted, partial, reckless and intended to incite chaos.”
His remarks were met with widespread backlash from the public, who viewed his stance as an attempt to suppress press freedom.
Senator Sifuna addressed such criticisms by urging openness to the documentary’s revelations.
“We must encourage these stories to be told from all angles for the sake of truth and justice. Those who are uncomfortable with this are wrestling with their own consciences, and we cannot help them with that,” he stated.
The Blood Parliament documentary is part of BBC Africa Eye’s investigative series, which aims to uncover and report on significant issues across the African continent.
The series is known for its in-depth analysis and commitment to exposing corruption and human rights abuses.
Blood Parliament is available for viewing on BBC Africa Eye’s official YouTube channel.
