Kenyans running during anti-finance bill protests in Nairobi in June 2024
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AFP
Manyatta Member of Parliament, Gitonga Mukunji, has urged the government to respond to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary by also investigating and, if possible, releasing a documentary detailing what happened during the Gen Z protests last year.
Speaking during a public event on Monday, April 28, the MP said that it is a 'shame' that international media houses are releasing detailed reports of what exactly transpired during the protests, and yet the government lacks answers and is still reluctant to conduct investigations.
"I want to condemn the fact that there has not been a solid investigation to determine who exactly killed the youths. I want to call on the government that if they have an alternative of what transpired, they should be able to release it," he said.
"It is also a shame that we have to wait for the BBC to create a documentary so that we can start answering the questions about what happened. When the youths were going to protests in the parliament, they were fighting for every Kenyan," he said.
Manyatta MP John Mukunji a meeting of the Manyatta Constituency Professionals Development Association on November 21, 2022.
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John Mukunji
Mukunji has further said that the government should also step up and compensate families who lost their loved ones during the demonstrations.
"They should compensate the families that lost their children during their protests because killing those young men was inhumane, given that the people were speaking and acting within the constitution, he said.
The sentiments by Mukunji come hours after the BBC released an exposé dubbed 'Blood Parliament', which featured the events of the June 25 anti-finance bill protests that led to the death of over 60 people.
The documentary, which analysed over 5000 images of the protests, revealed that officers from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were involved in the shooting of at least three protestors.
Following its release, people, especially those who participated in the protests, reacted through social media and expressed feelings of horror and a reminder of the events that led to the loss of their comrades.
"The BBC documentary touched me somewhere, man. To hell with this government and all it stands for. At least we know it isn't standing with its citizens," one X user stated.
On the other hand, some individuals, especially in the political arena, castigated the media house for releasing the documentary, claiming that it sought to trigger incitement.
In a statement on Monday, April 28, the Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma said that the government should ban the BBC in the country for releasing the documentary.
"Ban the BBC in Kenya. The role played by the media in any democracy is too important to be discharged irresponsibly. The media can build a greater democracy or destroy an otherwise stable state. Lest we forget, the Rwanda mass annihilation would not have occurred were it not for reckless media," he stated.
A photo of Homa Bay Town MP George Peter Kaluma.
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Peter Kaluma
