Mandera North Member of Parliament Bashir Abdullahi has clarified his contentious statement, “we sympathise and move on,” following heavy criticism from Kenyans who viewed it as dismissive of the lives lost during the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests.
Abdullahi made the remark while addressing the BBC documentary Blood Parliament, which revealed the identities of police officers allegedly involved in the killings of protestors. The documentary has since gone viral, garnering over 4.7 million views on YouTube, and has sparked national outrage and demands for justice.
Speaking in Parliament earlier this week, the MP stated: “It happens world over, people are killed, our people were killed, we sympathised, we moved on.” Many interpreted this as an indication that the government and society had turned a blind eye to the victims’ deaths. However, Abdullahi took to social media to clarify, insisting his remarks were misinterpreted and taken out of context.
“My comments were aimed at highlighting the selective outrage of some Western media. They are quick to condemn violence in countries like Kenya but remain silent on other atrocities such as the ongoing suffering of Palestinians,” he explained. He accused the BBC of portraying Kenya in a discriminatory light while ignoring broader global injustices.
Abdullahi emphasized that he does not trivialize the loss of Kenyan lives and expressed support for an independent investigation into the June 25 killings. “I support the call for an independent investigation and demand accountability for those responsible,” he stated. “If my words hurt bereaved families or any Kenyan, I offer my deepest and unconditional apology.”
His sentiments mirrored those of Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, who also questioned the motives behind the BBC documentary, accusing the broadcaster of pushing a foreign agenda in Kenya.
The Blood Parliament documentary pieced together over 5,000 images to identify officers linked to the deaths of three protestors. The revelations have intensified calls for justice, transparency, and reform within Kenya’s police force.
