Nairobi, 3rd May 2025: The Police Reforms Working Group–Kenya (PRWG-Kenya) condemns the arrest of four independent film producers Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, Mark Karubiu, and Chris Wamae and the seizure of their equipment last night.
While the four film producers have since been released on free bond, we call on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to drop the charges of “false publication“ against the four and release their equipment to them.
Furthermore, we call on the National Police Services to concentrate its vast investigative resources on finding and charging the Kenya Defence Services and Police officers that have been identified in the BBC Blood Parliament documentary as suspected to have killed Ericcson Mutisya, David Chege, Eric Shieni and the other 60 protesters. This is where the public interest lies.
That this crackdown occurred on the eve of World Press Freedom Day is shocking. The arrests violate the constitutionally protected right to expression (Art.33) and freedom of the media (Art.34) as well as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Art.9), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This crackdown also contradicts the commitment given by the Attorney General on behalf of the Government to uphold human rights during the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva barely two days ago on May 1.
We urge the Government of Kenya to understand that with a failing economy, a burdensome taxing regime and a failed health sector, the ongoing scapegoating of critics and suppression of fundamental freedoms only serves to widen public distrust and disillusionment.
The Police Reforms Working Group calls upon all citizens, civil society and media agencies and partners to stand in solidarity with independent filmmakers, creatives and journalists speaking truth to power and upholding the principles of democracy, justice, and accountability.
PETITION
Demand a Public Inquiry into the June 25th Shootings in Parliament
Sign this petition to urge the Government of Kenya to establish a Commission of Inquiry that will allow victims and other Kenyans to present evidence and investigate the June 25, 2024, police violence.
Signed
Police Reforms Working Group -Kenya (PWRG-Kenya) Coalition Members
This statement is signed by the Police Reforms Working Group, an alliance of national and grassroots organizations committed to professional, accountable, and human rights-compliant policing. They include: Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), Kariobangi Paralegal Network, Defenders Coalition, Social Justice Centres Working Group (SJCW), Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), International Justice Mission (IJM-K), HAKI Africa, Amnesty International Kenya, Women Empowerment Link, Social Welfare Development Program (SOWED), Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA- Kenya), International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ – Kenya), Transparency International Kenya, Shield For justice, Wangu Kanja Foundation, Constitution and Reform Education Consortium (CRECO), Kenyans for Peace, Truth and Justice (KPTJ) and Peace Brigades International Kenya (PBI Kenya).