NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFPTA) has condemned the arrest of four Kenyan filmmakers, calling it an alarming attack on creative freedom.
The filmmakers, Nicholas Wambugu, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Christopher Wamae, were arrested on Friday night from their studio in Karen under unclear circumstances, with police also seizing their equipment and data storage devices.
In a statement, KFPTA chairperson Ezekiel Onyango expressed concern over the incident, stating that the filmmakers were being held at different police stations, with Nicholas and Brian at Pangani Police Station, and Mark and Christopher at Muthaiga Police Station.
Onyango confirmed that the association had been granted permission to visit the filmmakers the following morning, with further updates on their well-being and the circumstances of their arrest expected.
The filmmakers are reportedly facing charges related to publishing false information and cyberbullying, although details of the allegations remain unclear.
Onyango has demanded full transparency about the charges and the conditions of detention, vowing legal support for the filmmakers.
“We stand in full solidarity with our arrested colleagues, their families, and the entire creative community,” he said.
The arrest follows the release of a BBC Africa Eye documentary alleging that Kenyan security forces used live ammunition on anti-tax protesters during the June 2024 Gen Z protests.
The exposé has sparked outrage and raised international concerns about extrajudicial killings.
As a result, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mulele Ingonga, has called for an investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), though legal experts suggest the probe should extend beyond IPOA’s jurisdiction, given potential military involvement.
Prominent activist Boniface Mwangi, who has also condemned the arrests, confirmed that police seized the filmmakers’ equipment during the raid. He shared that a team of lawyers, including Ian Mutiso, is working to secure their release.
The KFPTA and other supporters continue to call for the immediate and transparent release of the filmmakers, stressing that this incident is a significant challenge to artistic expression and freedom in Kenya.
“We will not relent until our colleagues are safe, heard, and home,” Onyango concluded, thanking the public for their support during this difficult time.
