The Kenyan government has been left wagging its tail while at the same time gnashing its teeth following a detailed heart-wrenching documentary that pieced up together the chronological events during the June 2024 Gen-Z protests.
From June 18, 2024 to August the same year, the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) through the BBC African Eye special investigative program has been piecing up the occurrences, the shooting, the killings and enforced disappearances purely planned and executed by the Kenyan police.
Though the Kenyan government has quickly criticised the serious debunk entitled the ‘Blood Parliament’, Kenyans have strongly defended the international media house for laying bare what the Kenyan media failed to explain to Kenyans.
The approximately 37.10-minute documentary narrated in both English and Swahili languages has triggered a serious debate in Kenya, with Kenyan parliamentary now asking the government to terminate BBC’s broadcasting license in Kenya.
However, Human rights defenders and Kenyans at large have strongly defended the investigative piece which reaffirmed their fear that the government was behind the shooting and killing of innocent youth during the Gen-protests—and that the police hands are “full of blood”
Intense process
According to the investigators, they analysed over 5,000 action photographs taken during the June 25, 2024, the material day when the Kenyan youthful generation famously known as the Gen-Z held a peaceful procession to the Kenyan parliament buildings to oppose the Finance Bill, 2024.
During the material day, members of Kenyan Parliament right inside the chambers discussing the bill and eventually they passed it, despite the efforts by the opposition led by Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino who opposed the Finance Bill.
“Kenyans have all the rights to reject this Finance bill because they know where it will pinch them. I fully back the Kenyan youthful generation and despite all the occurrences, the Gen-Z are still on course in their dream and vision to take over the leadership of this country,” said the youthful, Kenyan MP.
Fearless journalism
In the ‘Blood Parliament’ documentary, the investigator explains step by the step how Kenyan Police including the Kenya Defense Forces and the Kenya Army planned and shot unarmed youth who were only fighting for their rights—urging the politicians to stop the exorbitant taxes.
“The Independent Police Oversight Authority has failed us, same applies to the investigation institutions and the entire government. This is a total shame for an international media house to fight for our rights while the government is not bothered at all,” said Vocal Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid.
Meanwhile, IPOA has come out defending itself that it has been conducting investigations and the entire process is almost complete.
According to the IPOA Chairperson, Isaack Hassan, the first list of all those involved in the killings of the youth is almost complete.
Laxity
However, his defense has been trashed by Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI), Rapid Response Officer, Francis Auma who stated that IPOA has been mum since the sad unfolding in June 25, 2024.
“We have the IPOA, the DCI, the National Intelligence Service among all other investigating institutions in the country which have so far done totally nothing. This is so shameful to our country,” said Auma.
He criticised the government investigating agencies for laxity.
“This is truly a matter of accountability. These institutions have failed us. We want to see all those involved in killing innocent Kenyan youth from Mombasa to the capital Nairobi taken to court and charged. The affected families should get justice,” added the human rights defender.
Other youthful activists from Mombasa county among them Ali Fujo and Wallid Sketty also criticised the government for failing to account for the killings and the forcible disappearances during the Gen-Z protests.
Meanwhile, the government has blocked the screening of the Blood Parliament documentary in the country by the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC), according to the international media house Spokesperson.
