The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was forced to clarify after claims emerged that it hired actors for an exposé in Luo night runners.
In the film titled, Meet The Night Runners that ran for slightly over 50 minutes on May 7, the international media house revealed that it had acquired exclusive footage of the faces of the people involved in the exercise.
"The Luo people of East Africa have spoken about 'night runners' for generations. But who are these night runners? BBC Africa Eye has caught them in action," part of the documentary narrated.
Night-running has for decades been a controversial ritual in the community with the people involved doing it discreetly that no faces have ever been revealed.
Several fans accused the media conglomerate of hiring actors and stage managing the production while trying to pas it as genuine and actual depiction.
Taking to social media, BBC refuted the claims explaining that it took much pride in its work and that the production was wholly based on consent from the people featured.
"The latest BBC Africa Eye investigation "night runners" was made with voluntary fully informed consent from members of the community featured.
"There was no dramatised footage in this documentary. The BBC's editorial standards and commitment to accuracy mean that we would not feature dramatised footage without clear labelling," read the statement in part.
According to local media outlets, a woman who had reportedly been featured in the documentary was recorded on video claiming that she was not a night runner.
She explained that they approached her claiming that she was part of a play only to learn later that it was aired as a documentary.
