Several Members of Parliament have expressed concern over a recent BBC documentary titled Blood Parliament, saying it portrays Kenya unfairly and could derail ongoing national reconciliation efforts.
Speaking in Parliament, Mandera North MP Major Bashir Abdullahi said the documentary paints a negative image of the country. He added that while the June 25, 2024, incident was tragic, the international broadcaster should offer more balanced reporting by covering global conflicts equally.
“We sympathise with those who lost their lives. But Kenya is not the only country that has faced such events. We have seen incidents in the U.S. and other parts of the world. Yet, the focus always seems to come back to Kenya,” said Mr Abdullahi.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie suggested that the timing of the BBC report could be linked to conditions Kenya attached to its military cooperation agreement with the UK. The agreement includes a clause requiring British soldiers found culpable of crimes on Kenyan soil to face local justice.
“As a media professional, I know every story has a backstory. We want to understand whether this report is purely journalistic or if it’s influenced by diplomatic matters,” Mr Kiarie stated.
He emphasized that Parliament remains firm in its position: any foreign soldier who commits offences such as assault or murder while in Kenya must be held accountable under local laws.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo urged her colleagues to also look inward and consider the root causes of unrest among Kenyan youth. She called on Parliament to lead national healing efforts.
“We are dealing with a generation that is hurting. Parliament needs to take the lead in addressing that pain and helping young people move forward,” Ms Odhiambo said.
While Ms Odhiambo criticized the title of the documentary, she urged a more thoughtful discussion on the underlying issues instead of reacting emotionally.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula did not issue a ruling on the matter.
The Blood Parliament documentary, which investigates the June 2024 protests outside Parliament where police were accused of using excessive force, was scheduled for public release but was postponed.
According to the BBC, investigators examined over 5,000 images to reconstruct the timeline of events and identify those involved.
Meanwhile, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has said it completed investigations into 22 out of 60 reported deaths related to the protests. The agency is still handling 36 additional cases, with some having been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
IPOA Chairperson Issack Hassan noted that they recorded over 200 injuries and pointed to challenges such as limited cooperation from police and witnesses as factors slowing the process.
