A BBC investigation, which aimed to identify members of Kenya’s security forces who shot dead anti-tax protesters at the country’s Parliament last June, has elicited angry reactions from Kenyans online.
The investigative piece, which was published on April 27, is titled ‘Blood Parliament’ and in it, the BBC analysed more than 5,000 images as the broadcaster sought to revisit the bloody scenes which unfolded after thousands of protesters clashed with the police as they stormed the city and boldly marched into Parliament.
The BBC World Service team analysed videos and photos taken by protesters and journalists on the day, determining when each was taken using camera metadata, livestream timings and public clocks visible in the shots.
“We plotted three of the killings on a 3D reconstruction of Kenya’s parliament, allowing us to trace the fatal shots back to the rifles of a police officer and a soldier,” the BBC wrote.
What then follows is BBC Africa Eye’s detailed timeline of events as Kenyan MPs entered Parliament for the final vote on the government’s controversial Finance Bill 2024, while protesters gathered on the streets outside on the fateful day of Tuesday, 25 June 2024.
“For me, it was just a normal day,” 26-year-old student journalist Ademba Allans told the BBC.
“People were livestreaming on their TikTok and Instagram accounts, while events were broadcast live on national TV.”
At first, protesters were held back at roadblocks by tear gas and truncheons, then police started using water cannons and rubber bullets, the BBC reports.
By 1PM, more than 100,000 people were on the streets.
“The numbers start getting bigger and people start getting arrested,” said Allans. “The police are everywhere. They’re trying to push people back. People are even climbing on top of those water cannons.”
Inside at 2:14PM, the Finance Bill 2024 was voted in: 195 in favour, 106 against.
Opposition MPs stormed out, and word instantly reached the masses outside.
“This is when everybody is saying: ‘Whatever happens, we are going to enter the parliament and show the MPs that we believe in what we’re fighting for,’” Allans recalled.
At 2:20PM, protesters finally broke through the police blockade and reached the road running alongside Parliament.
Things happened quickly. An abandoned police truck stationed outside the gates was set on fire. Fences were torn down and protesters set foot on parliamentary grounds – but the incursion was short-lived as Parliamentary security forces quickly cleared them out, in an apocalyptic scene which jolted the nation.
“At the same time, police officers went back up Parliament Road in force to drive the protesters back. While this was happening, journalists were filming, producing minute-by-minute footage from many angles,” the BBC reported.
“One of those videos captured a plain-clothes police officer shouting ‘uaa!’” The Swahili word for “kill”. Seconds later, a police officer knelt, gunshots were heard, and protesters in the crowd collapsed – seven in total.”
The report revealed that, in those tense minutes, as gunshots ruled the air the the smell of blood swept Parliament, David Chege, a 39-year-old software engineer and Sunday-school teacher, and Ericsson Mutisya, a 25-year-old butcher, were shot dead.
Five other men were wounded, one of whom was left paralysed from the waist down.
The investigative piece then focused on the people who actually fired the shots – in a shocking revelation, Kenyans got to learn that some members of the Kenya Defence Forces were involved in the killings at Parliament grounds.
The BBC writes: “In the video of the officer shouting, ‘uaa!’, the shooter’s back was to the camera. But the BBC compared his body armour, riot shield and headgear with that of every police officer at the scene.”
“In his case, he had an upturned neck guard. We matched his distinctive uniform to an officer in a video recorded seconds later. There, he made sure to hide his face before firing into the crowd. We do not know his name.
“Even after the fatal shots, the plain-clothes officer could still be heard urging his colleagues forward to ‘kill’. He was not so cautious about concealing his identity: his name is John Kaboi. Multiple sources have told the BBC he is based at the Central Nairobi Police Station.”
In the case of 27-year old Finance student Eric Shieni, who also was shot at the back of his head and killed while leaving Parliament grounds, the BBC reported that after analysing more than 150 images taken during the minutes before and after Shieni was shot, they were able to identify the Kenya Defence Forces soldier who fired at the back of his head from 25 meters (82ft) away – but that they did not get his name.
“The video is very clear. The aim was to kill those protesters. They could have had him arrested. But the fact that you shoot his head – it was clearly an intention to kill,” Faith Odhiambo, president of the Law Society of Kenya told BBC Africa Eye.
“You have become the judge, the jury and the sentence executioner for Eric.”
The Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) told the BBC the IPOA had not forwarded any request to look into any of its personnel involved in the operations at parliament.
It added: “The KDF remains fully committed to upholding the rule of law and continues to operate strictly within its constitutional mandate.”
Immediately after the feature landed on YouTube, where it has amassed a staggering 800,000 views in 15 hours, Kenyans made their feelings known, with many bitterly castigating members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) for participating in the killings of innocent civilians.
Activist Hanifa Adan, who has been featured in the BBC piece, said: “Now that BBC has been able to unmask killer cops through their uniforms with their faces fully covered, they have nowhere to hide. That’s why they’re always in civilian clothes!”
Again, she tweeted, “We have a civic and moral duty to continue with this fight until the end no matter how draining and devastating it is. That’s why I’m still standing here. That’s why we should never tire. Blood was spilled. Our comrades were killed. It is our duty to continue. Never forget.”
On his part, activist Boniface Mwangi, who also features in the piece, wrote, “Senators, Members of Parliament, and National Assembly staff recorded the events from their view, and the unhooded killer cops but most of them are still holding onto their recordings out of fear. I posted one such video last year. For the sake of truth, and justice we urge them to share what they have.”
Another Kenyan opined: “I love how BBC humanized the victims against the backdrop of the president calling them treasonous criminals. These were ordinary Kenyans living their ordinary lives, wanting better for the country, but hunted down by rogue police and forces. We will not forget!”
Popular X personality Bravin Yuri also reacted, writing, “Imagine a documentary ending with this. “Our deepest thanks to all photojournalists, production staff, and producers who cannot be credited for their own safety”. This is not just deep. It paints the picture of the kind of life we are living. #BloodParliament.”
Amerix, also a powerful figure on X, wrote to his 2.1 million followers: “On 25th June 2024, the parliament was impeached. It remains a cursed house. It is a haunted house. Every June, the ghosts of #BloodParliament will be returning to dance with the MPs. It must be cleared, cleaned and cleansed. Otherwise, no MP will come out of it normal!”
Activist Wanjira Wanjiru, too, expressed her anger and disappointment in the government, writing, “Watched #BloodParliament with a bleeding heart. Seething anger towards Ruto and those murderous KDF puppets. Eric’s mom standing alone by his graveside . Chege’s lifeless body. Erickson We will never forget. We will never forgive.”
Despite a parliamentary committee ordering Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the deaths on the streets of the capital, Nairobi, and make public its findings, no report regarding the killings at parliament has yet been issued and no one has been held to account.
