A wave of public fury has swept across Kenya following the release of a powerful BBC Africa Eye documentary titled Blood Parliament, which alleges that Kenyan security forces used lethal force on unarmed protesters during last year’s anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
The documentary, which premiered on Monday, meticulously reconstructs the events of June 25, 2024 — the day thousands of mostly Gen Z protesters marched toward Parliament to reject a controversial Finance Bill. Using eyewitness accounts, CCTV footage, and video evidence, Blood Parliament investigates the deaths of three young protesters who were shot near Parliament buildings.
Kenyans on social media were quick to react, with hashtags like #BloodParliament, #JusticeForJune25, and #EndPoliceBrutality dominating online discussions. Many users demanded answers and accountability, accusing the government and police of attempting to cover up the violence. “We need justice for these young lives. We will not forget,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter).
One of the most harrowing moments captured in the documentary is the final footage of 21-year-old Evans Kiratu, moments before he was fatally shot. The film suggests that the young man was not armed and posed no threat to law enforcement. The documentary also raises questions about other unexplained injuries and deaths during the protests.
Responses to Blood Parliament
Civil society organizations have renewed their calls for an independent investigation. Amnesty International Kenya said in a statement, “The government must urgently address these grave human rights violations and hold those responsible to account. Silence is not an option.”
Meanwhile, government officials and the National Police Service have yet to issue an official response to the documentary. The silence has only fueled public suspicion and deepened the mistrust between citizens and state institutions.
The Finance Bill protests were among the most significant youth-led demonstrations in Kenya in recent history. Although the government later withdrew some of the bill’s most contentious proposals, the deaths during the protests left a lasting scar — now reopened by Blood Parliament.
As Kenyans continue to demand justice, the documentary has reignited a broader conversation about police accountability, freedom of assembly, and the right to protest. Blood Parliament is now available on BBC Africa’s YouTube channel and has already been viewed hundreds of thousands of times, prompting national soul-searching.
