Four young filmmakers from Nairobi were arrested on the night of May 2. Their names are Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, Mark Karubiu, and Chris Wamae.
They made a film called Blood Parliament, which talks about bad things happening in the government. Police came to their studio in Karen at night and took them away.
The police did not charge them with any big crime. They only said the filmmakers made false stories. But they were not taken to court. On Saturday, May 3, the four were set free on a free bond.
They did not have to pay any money. But their equipment—cameras, hard drives, and computers—was not returned. The police kept them.
Lawyer Ian Mutiso, from the Law Society of Kenya, helped to free them. He said, “These young men are not criminals. They are storytellers. We worked hard to make sure they go home safe.”
One filmmaker, who didn’t want his name shared, said, “We are happy to be free. But our work is now lost. We don’t know if we will get our things back.”
Many Kenyans on social media are talking about the arrest. Some are angry that people telling the truth through film are being punished. Others are asking why police are using fear instead of listening.
The fight is not over. The filmmakers want their tools back so they can keep telling stories. Their lawyer says they will keep pushing until justice is done.
This event shows that in Kenya, making films about truth can be risky. But even with fear, brave people still speak.
By tuko