Blood Parliament

Bloody Parliament This BBC documentary, which is essentially an indictment, "Vloid Parliament," is making waves.

Ten months have passed since thousands of young Kenyans marched to the National Assembly, determined to prevent the passage of the 2024 Finance Bill. Blood was shed in the Kenyan parliament in Nairobi as lawmakers pushed for the passage of a law that labeled youth repressive. Gitonga Mukunji, Member of Parliament, called on the government to respond to the BBC documentary by also conducting research and, if possible, publishing a documentary detailing what happened during the Generation Z protests last year. The BBC's analysis of the images showed that those killed were unarmed and posed no threat. The MP said it was a "shame" that international media outlets were publishing detailed reports about the exact events during the protests, yet the government had no answers and continued to shy away from launching investigations. The answer is obvious: The government has no interest in investigating what happened because in the end, the government will be blamed. "I would like to condemn the fact that there has been no thorough investigation to determine who exactly killed the youths. I would like to call on the government to publish an alternative account of what happened, if it has an alternative account," he said. It is a shame, however, that it is not mentioned that such events even occurred. The documentary, which analyzed over 5,000 images of the protests, revealed that Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officers were involved in the shooting of at least three demonstrators. The film shows footage of the protests and identifies a suspected Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) officer inside Parliament who was observed shooting at demonstrators. The officer, wearing a white shoulder patch, a green cap, red boots, and carrying a gun, was standing just 25 meters away from the demonstrator, the late Eric Shieni *1). Media also reported that the officer was the only person at the scene still wearing uniform after the shooting. Was this a premeditated killing? The BBC also reported that the officer, who appears to be a military officer, was apparently hired by an unknown individual to carry out the shooting. Some individuals, particularly politicians, criticized the BBC for releasing the documentary, claiming it attempted to incite sedition. In a statement, MP Peter Kaluma called on the government to ban the BBC from releasing the documentary. Former Chief Justice David Maraga condemned this use of force against the Generation Z protesters. "The disproportionate use of force against the youth last June is yet another reminder of the urgent need for the IPOA and other investigative agencies such as the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to expeditiously discharge their duties," he stated. Maranga said the right to strike is a constitutional right that has been violated. "Those behind this violence, the violation of the Constitution and the rule of law, are reminded that while the wheels of justice may grind slowly, we will eventually have leadership that will hold them accountable for their actions," he added. "At a time when we cannot trust the words of this government, it is civic initiatives and fearless journalism that ensure the truth is not erased." The documentary identified members of the security forces who shot and killed anti-tax protesters outside the parliament building. Although a parliamentary committee commissioned the Kenyan Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the deaths on the streets of the capital, Nairobi, and publish its findings, no report has been published on the killings in parliament, and no one has been held accountable. The Kenyan Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest. This doesn't mean much, as we've known since June of last year. Shieni's family stated that he was fighting for good governance, not to overthrow the government. Faith Odhiambo, president of the Kenya Bar Association, called for accountability and justice for the victims of police violence. *1) Eric Shieni was a 27-year-old finance student at the University of Nairobi who was shot dead outside the Kenyan parliament on June 25, 2024, during protests against a proposed tax increase. He was shot in the back of the head as he left the parliament grounds and was unarmed at the time. The BBC investigation found that a Kenya Defence Force soldier fired the fatal shot from about 25 meters away, but the soldier's identity remains unknown. The deaths of Shieni and others sparked outrage, as it was viewed as a deliberate killing by security forces during the protests. His goal was to pursue a career in finance and contribute to Kenya's development, but his life was cut short by the violence of the protests. Bibliography @https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/111516-manyatta-mp-challenges-govt-respond-bbc-documentary-compensate-families @https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-04-28-maraga-killers-of-gen-zs-will-face-justice-one-day @https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/politics/article/2001517613/bbc-expose-revisiting-the-deadly-parliament-clash-and-police-violence @https://kiswahili.tuko.co.ke/kenya/587293-hasira-baada-ya-bbc-kumwanika-afisa-wa-kdf-aliyewapiga-risasi-gen-z-walioandamana-bungeni