Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae has called for the release of individuals detained and denied their right to free speech.
Her remarks came on Saturday, May 3, 2025, as the world observes World Press Freedom Day.
In a statement shared via her official X account on Saturday, May 3, 2025, Wamae said this day would be the perfect opportunity for the government to uphold democracy and let go of those being punished for expressing themselves.
“World Press Freedom Day would be the best day to address democracy and free those detained and denied freedom of speech,” Wamae stated.
Wamae’s statement follows the recent arrest and release of four Kenyan filmmakers linked to the BBC documentary Blood Parliament. The filmmakers; Nicholas Gichuki Wambugu, Brian Adagala, MarkDenver Karubiu, and Chris Wamae, were arrested under unclear circumstances on Friday, May 2, 2025.
They were picked up from their studio in Karen, Nairobi, without explanation and taken to separate police stations. Gichuki and Adagala were detained at Pangani Police Station, while Karubiu and Wamae were held at Muthaiga Police Station.
Their detention sparked an uproar online and among civil society groups, who raised concerns that the arrests were meant to silence the team behind the high-profile investigative documentary.
On Saturday, after their release, their lawyer Ian Mutiso confirmed that the four were under investigation for publishing false information. He said the police had not yet provided full details of the accusations.
Mutiso explained that the filmmakers were freed on a free bond, with no cash bail required. However, he expressed concern over how the arrest was handled. According to him, police officers at Pangani Police Station said the operation was not within their control but had been directed from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
This raised further questions about the motives behind the arrests and the chain of command involved.
Attack on journalists
The arrest and treatment of the filmmakers come amid growing fears over the shrinking space for media freedom in Kenya. Though the 2010 Constitution guarantees freedom of the press and expression, recent events suggest these rights are not being fully respected.
Over the past year, cases of violence and intimidation against journalists have risen sharply, especially during protests. Several journalists covering demonstrations in 2024 were injured, arrested, or obstructed by police officers.
On July 16, 2024, Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki of Kameme TV was shot three times in the thigh with rubber bullets by police in Nakuru, even though she wore a press vest. She had to undergo surgery. Wanjeri believed she was deliberately targeted, pointing out a previous incident where she was hit with a tear gas canister while reporting.
On June 25, 2024, AFP photojournalist Collins Olunga was hit by a tear gas canister aimed directly at him during a protest in Nairobi. He suffered a serious hand injury and needed surgery. On the same day, KBC reporter John Omido was sprayed with water laced with chemicals, damaging his equipment.
Earlier, on June 18, three journalists; Justus Mwangi from Standard Media Group, Maureen Muthoni from Nation Media Group, and Mohammed Yusuf from Voice of America, were attacked while covering protests. Mwangi was assaulted, bundled into a police vehicle, and thrown out, sustaining injuries. Muthoni was hurt and arrested after being targeted with a tear gas canister. Yusuf was obstructed while reporting.
These incidents attracted widespread condemnation from the Foreign Press Association Africa (FPAA), the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK). All three organisations have urged the government to protect journalists and uphold their rights.