NAIROBI, Kenya — Human rights activists from Mukuru slums have been summoned by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over suspected ties to a BBC documentary that exposed police brutality during last year’s anti-government protests.
The Mukuru Community Justice Centre (MCJC), a grassroots human rights organisation, said its leaders were directed to appear at Embakasi Police Station at 11:00 am on Monday.
The organisation believes the summons are linked either to their role in the production of Blood Parliament, a BBC investigative documentary, or to their ongoing campaign seeking justice for victims of alleged extrajudicial killings in Mathare’s Kware area.
The organisation also shared the development on its official X account, suggesting that some of its members who acted as citizen journalists during the 2024 Gen Z protests are suspected of working with the BBC.
“We suspect it can either be because of our scheduled campaign to ask for justice for the Kware bodies or because some of our members were trained citizen journalists working for Sema Ukweli Kenya during the Gen Z protests of 2024, and they are being suspected of working with the BBC,” the group posted.
Good morning comrades and Kenyans on Twitter, Mukuru Community Justice Centre leadership has been summoned to appear before the DCI at 11am today. We suspect it can either be because of our scheduled campaign to ask for justice for GenZ Kware Bodies or because some of our members
The summons come just days after four Kenyan filmmakers were arrested and later released on bail in connection with the same documentary.
The film, Blood Parliament, aired recently on BBC Africa and BBC News Swahili, highlighting alleged state violence during protests against the Finance Bill, 2024.
The arrested filmmakers — Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, Markdenver Karubiu, and Christopher Wamae — were accused of cybercrime offences under Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, 2018.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations alleges the group conspired with the BBC to “orchestrate defamatory publications,” although the British broadcaster has denied that the four were involved in the production.
“The suspects have conspired with users of BBC’s digital platforms to orchestrate defamatory content online,” DCI officer Chief Inspector Nickson Kinyua claimed in an affidavit, accusing them of inciting unrest and tarnishing public institutions.
Despite the allegations, the filmmakers were granted anticipatory bail and released on free bond. Their electronic devices remain in police custody.
The Law Society of Kenya, which is representing the accused, condemned the arrests, calling them unjustified and politically motivated.
Local and international human rights organisations have expressed concern over what they see as an attempt to intimidate activists and silence dissent.
MCJC, known for its advocacy in informal settlements, has been actively involved in documenting police abuses and supporting families affected by state violence.
The group said it will continue pushing for accountability, even as it prepares to respond to the DCI summons.
“We will not be intimidated. Justice for the Kware victims must be served,” Daudi said.
