Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has supported the recent BBC documentary titled 'Blood Parliament', which focused on the protests and police response during the recent Gen Z demonstrations last year, calling for further investigations.
Cherargei explained that this documentary reflected largely on what happened during the protest and should not be facing the kind of criticism it has received from the government.
“This documentary largely reflects on what happened that day. I was in Parliament, although skewed to incite the public. The closure in this matter is to accept the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to conclude investigations ASAP. When is the BBC releasing the January 6th USA insurrection?” he said.
The Senator acknowledged that the BBC has the right to air such content but insisted that it must also follow Kenyan laws.
"Even though the BBC has the right to air that content, it should also adhere to the local laws. We don't want any documentary that will incite or cause discomfort or fight or cause discomfort at any given instant," he added.
Cherargei emphasised that journalism should present all sides of a story, challenging the BBC to include the government’s efforts in dealing with those responsible for the violence.
"I want to challenge that the BBC has a right to do that documentary, but they should not only carry one side of the story. I think in journalism, the story should be balanced; the person who participated in the killings of any young innocent must be arrested and prosecuted because this is the rule of law. That is the work of the DPP and the DCI," the senator said.
He urged Kenyans not to overreact to the documentary but instead focus on ensuring justice is served to those affected during the protest.
"Let us not be overreactive to the Blood Parliament documentary; let us receive the briefing that all these issues have people who have been arrested and prosecuted because the postmortem report has been there; Kenyans who have been killed are known."
"They should just be arrested and prosecuted, even if it involves the police officers or the criminal gangs that killed Kenyans during the Gen Z protest," he noted.
Cherargei added that the protests had already happened, and the most important thing is that those involved in the killings and those who violated the law must be arrested and prosecuted.
He also warned against extreme measures such as banning the BBC, saying that it would threaten media freedom in the country.
"I want to appeal that the issue of removing licences to the BBC is an extreme one. I would not support. That will threaten and endanger media freedom in our country. Let the BBC give the other side of the government on how the progress of prosecution and investigations has gone," Cherargei said.
The Senator’s remarks come amid public debate about police actions during recent protests and how the media portrays these events.
