Dennis Itumbi, Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects, has condemned the recent arrest of four Kenyan filmmakers, calling the police action “unnecessary” and a threat to artistic freedom. The four Nicholas Wambugu Gichuki, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Christopher Wamae were arrested on Friday night under unclear circumstances from their studio in Karen.
Booked for “false publication,” the filmmakers were held overnight at Pangani and Muthaiga police stations and released on free bond the following morning. However, their equipment and data storage devices remain in police custody, according to their legal representatives.
“It is unnecessary to arrest filmmakers merely for making a film,” Itumbi posted on social media. He emphasized the need for the creative industry to be free from intimidation and encouraged storytellers to respond with alternative narratives. “There is an alternative story on the violence and political planning that unleashed the storming of Bunge and invading the armory at the Mausoleum. Make an alternative documentary; tell the other story. The BBC told their story. Let them be,” he added.
The Kenya Film and Television Professionals Association (KFPTA) condemned the arrests, calling them an attempt to criminalise filmmaking. Chairperson Ezekiel Onyango expressed full solidarity with the arrested filmmakers and pledged legal and institutional support to ensure their rights are protected.
The arrests are believed to be linked to the recent BBC Africa Eye documentary, which alleges the use of live ammunition by Kenyan security forces during the June 2024 Gen Z anti-tax protests. The exposé has drawn local and international scrutiny, especially over alleged extrajudicial killings.
In response, Director of Public Prosecutions Mulele Ingonga has directed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the matter. Acknowledging that some involved officers might be from the military, legal experts have called for a broader inquiry. Ingonga stressed that the documentary raises “serious concerns” and that an impartial and transparent investigation is necessary.
“This matter is of public interest and touches the heart of our democratic values,” he stated.
The incident has reignited debate about freedom of expression and the limits of state power in Kenya’s democratic space.
