BBC News Africa has released a powerful documentary titled “The Blood Parliament”, shedding new light on the violence that rocked the Gen Z anti-government protests in June 2024.
The investigation has exposed disturbing claims about the individuals involved in the killings during the demonstrations, including possible links to Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers.
The BBC documentary, running 37 minutes long, carefully pieces together digital evidence to document the killing of dozens of young Kenyan protesters.
Their report suggests that the June 25 protests — which escalated with the storming of Parliament buildings — may have been infiltrated by well-trained forces outside the regular police units, raising troubling questions about the true nature of the security response.
Allegations of Army Involvement in Protest Shootings
According to the BBC’s findings, alongside regular police officers, there may have been shooters from the Kenya Army.
One of the key observations from the footage shows a gunman whose gear differed from that of all other plainclothes police officers.
His body armour, riot shield, and headgear were distinct, particularly an upturned neck guard, which helped investigators match him across different videos taken seconds apart.
Notably, the BBC pointed out that this shooter deliberately turned his face away before firing into the crowd, making identification difficult.
Though the investigation traced one suspected shooter to Nairobi’s Central Police Station, efforts to track his current assignment led to dead ends, creating even more doubt about his actual affiliation.
Attempts to Seek Official Comment Met with Silence
When BBC sought clarification from the National Police Service (NPS) and the Central Police Station regarding the officer’s identity and conduct, both declined to comment.
The NPS maintained that investigations into police misconduct are strictly handled by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), emphasizing that they could not investigate their own officers.
In response to the broader allegations involving the military, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) strongly denied the claims, stating that they are a professional and neutral service committed to maintaining their non-political stance.
Human Rights Impact and the Fallout from the Protests
The June 2024 demonstrations, driven largely by opposition to a Finance Bill proposing to raise Ksh346 billion in new taxes, eventually forced the government to withdraw the legislation.
However, the violent crackdown on protesters drew international condemnation and placed Kenya under intense global scrutiny over human rights abuses.
Following the protests, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) confirmed that at least 39 people were killed and 361 others injured nationwide during the unrest.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigations
So far, only one police officer — attached to Central Police Station — has been charged in connection with the killings.
His murder case, however, faced delays, with a court hearing scheduled for March 10 postponed after a key witness asked for additional time to submit crucial documents.
The BBC’s explosive revelations have once again put a spotlight on the unresolved questions surrounding the deadly crackdown, raising fresh demands for a full and transparent investigation.
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