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Leading human rights organizations are calling for thorough investigations into the deaths of protesters during security force actions against demonstrations in Kenya last June opposing tax increases.
This renewed call for action follows a BBC Africa Eye investigation which highlighted the actions of certain security personnel involved in the shooting of three protesters at the country’s parliament, leading to significant public discontent and calls for accountability.
Amnesty International and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have stated that the officers identified in the documentary must be held accountable under the law.
In response, a government spokesperson emphasized the value of every life, announcing that a police watchdog is conducting an inquiry, while criticizing the BBC for presenting a biased perspective.
Isaac Mwaura noted that the documentary creators failed to obtain government viewpoints, suggesting that this lack of balance diminished its credibility, particularly alleging that it misrepresented the violence during the protests.
Acknowledging that the protesters had genuine grievances regarding the financial legislation, Mwaura cautioned against allowing anarchy to dictate the country’s governance.
The BBC had sought governmental involvement in the documentary project, but its release has since stirred parliamentary debate. MP John Kiarie accused the BBC of advancing a foreign agenda, while Millie Odhiambo advocated for a measured governmental response without suppressing media coverage.
Odhiambo lamented that the documentary has intensified anger among the youth, reiterating that media censorship is unacceptable.
Before the documentary’s release, police stated they could not conduct self-assessments, pointing to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) as the body responsible for investigating claims of police misconduct.
The Kenyan Defence Forces remarked that they had not received requests from the IPOA regarding any personnel involved in the parliament incidents.
The Blood Parliament documentary depicted how law enforcement reacted harshly to youth protesters who entered parliament on June 25, 2024, coinciding with the lawmakers’ vote on the contentious tax increases.
The finance bill, which intended to generate $2.7 billion (£2 billion) to lessen the country’s dependence on foreign loans, led to widespread protests.
Using open-source data and contributions from users, the BBC identified armed personnel in uniforms who opened fire, resulting in the deaths of three unarmed protesters.
A broader crackdown by security forces amid protests against the finance bill resulted in at least 65 fatalities, the unexplained disappearances of 89 individuals, and thousands of arrests, according to Amnesty International.
The Kenyan government has reported a lower death toll of 42.
On Monday, the BBC canceled a planned private screening of the documentary in Nairobi due to government pressure.
A spokesperson expressed disappointment about the inability to host the screening and mentioned that audiences can still access the film on the BBC Africa’s YouTube channel.
Amnesty International noted that the documentary confirmed their earlier findings regarding the use of unnecessary lethal force against demonstrators.
The organization urged law enforcement and military officials to publicly disclose actions taken in response to the documentary’s findings.
Moreover, the rights group encouraged citizens to sign a petition demanding a public inquiry regarding the fatalities during the #OccupyParliament protests.
The KHRC claimed that the documentary illustrated how “organized criminals” in uniform were deployed to harm peaceful protesters.
They asserted that the accountability for these acts lies with President William Ruto, who must answer for the deaths.
Public sentiment on social media has turned against the government, with many urging for accountability from security forces involved in the violent suppression of the protests.
President Ruto has previously defended law enforcement against allegations of brutality, and he recently cautioned citizens against commenting on military affairs.
Despite repeated denials of involvement in abductions and murders by the police, there have been no charges against any officers.
Following the BBC documentary’s release, the IPOA updated the public on their investigations, revealing that of the 60 deaths under scrutiny, 41 involved gunshot injuries.
The IPOA stated it has completed 22 cases while actively pursuing 36 more, with two cases currently progressing through the judicial system.
The agency has recorded 233 injuries related to the protests.
The chief opposition coalition alleged that the “execution of peaceful protesters had been premeditated and authorized at the highest levels of government.”
Mwaura expressed concerns that the documentary might incite violence among Kenyans, while another politician called for the BBC to face a ban in Kenya.
George Peter Kaluma warned that the 37-minute film could “destabilize” the nation.
Conversely, Senator Edwin Sifuna defended the documentary’s integrity, asserting it contained no falsehoods and underscoring the importance of presenting diverse narratives for the sake of truth and justice. He remarked that discomfort regarding the documentary often stems from personal conscience struggles.
Source
www.bbc.com