Forum Criticizes BBC Documentary on Kenya Protests
By Njeri Irungu.
The Multi-Sectoral Forum for CSOs Dialogue with Government has questioned the fairness of the BBC Africa Eye documentary *“Blood Parliament,”* which covered the June 2024 protests outside Kenya’s Parliament. While supporting press freedom, the group accused the film of bias, omitting key facts about protest violence—including arson and attacks on police—and ignoring Kenya’s security and constitutional context.
The Forum expressed condolences to victims but rejected the documentary’s one-sided framing, which portrayed security forces as indiscriminate. It noted that international media like Reuters had verified protest-related violence, contrary to the BBC’s "peaceful protest" narrative. The statement also criticized the documentary’s emotional manipulation and lack of official perspectives, contrasting it with BBC coverage of unrest in Western nations.
While calling for accountability where excessive force occurred, the Forum warned against exploiting isolated incidents to undermine Kenya’s democracy. It urged balanced reporting and reaffirmed Kenya’s right to self-determination, stating: “Kenya’s healing belongs to Kenyans.”
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