MP Bashir Abdullahi Clarifies Controversial ‘We Sympathise and Move On’ Remark on BBC Documentary
Mandera North Member of Parliament, Bashir Abdullahi, has issued a public explanation following a storm of criticism sparked by a video of his remarks in Parliament.
The video, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, showed the MP commenting on the tragic events of June 25, 2024—when several protesters lost their lives during demonstrations against the Finance Bill.
The online backlash came after Abdullahi’s remarks were perceived as dismissive. Many Kenyans expressed outrage, accusing lawmakers of attempting to minimize the gravity of what had taken place. The video clip that triggered the uproar featured Abdullahi responding to a recent BBC documentary, Blood Parliament, which named two police officers and a soldier believed to be involved in the deaths of the protestors.
Speaking in Parliament, Abdullahi said:
“A very sad day indeed, tragic and shameful. Tragic in the sense that we lost the lives of our fellow Kenyans; shameful in the sense that the democracy of our Parliament was about to be infringed. Nevertheless, it has come at this time—a time that we have really moved on.”
He added that the matter had been discussed previously:
“We spoke about that issue in this House, discussed it, sympathised, and mourned our fellow Kenyans who passed on during that day.”
Abdullahi went on to say:
“However, it has come at this time again when, as much as we agree that our fellow Kenyans lost their lives, unfortunately, we also moved on to ensure that we reconcile the country. It happens the world over—people are killed, we sympathise, and we move on.”
These statements, especially the phrase “we sympathise and move on,” ignited public anger. Many interpreted them as a reflection of a broader trend among political leaders—one where serious incidents are acknowledged briefly, only to be quickly swept under the rug without genuine accountability.
Critics took to social media to voice their concerns. They argued that phrases like “move on” represent a dangerous normalization of police and military violence. The belief among many is that such rhetoric signals an unwillingness to push for justice or to support grieving families in meaningful ways.
In response to the mounting criticism, Bashir Abdullahi released a statement on his official X account (formerly Twitter) on May 1. In the post, he sought to clarify the intent behind his words and counter the widespread narrative forming around the viral clip.
“Fellow Kenyans, over the past few days, I have observed with concern the public reaction to a phrase attributed to me during a recent Parliamentary session—‘we sympathise and move on.’ While the phrase has gone viral, it has unfortunately been taken out of context and does not reflect the intent or spirit of my remarks,” he wrote.
The MP emphasized that he had been present in Parliament on the day the House discussed the deaths of protesters. He reiterated that he had condemned the violence and stood with the affected families.
“Let me set the record straight. I was present in Parliament on that solemn day when we unanimously condemned the tragic events of June 25, 2024, when innocent Kenyan youth lost their lives during the anti-Finance Bill protests. We mourned as a House and stood with the affected families. At no point did I mean to ignore or downplay the pain of what happened,” Bashir stated.
Acknowledging the emotional toll the remarks may have had, the legislator extended an apology to the victims’ families and to the Kenyan public at large.
“I demand that those responsible be held accountable. If my words hurt the families or any Kenyan, I offer my deepest and most sincere apology. I say this as a servant of the people.”
This incident has rekindled a national conversation on how elected leaders respond to episodes of state-led violence. Many Kenyans are questioning whether their representatives are truly committed to justice or simply going through the motions during times of public mourning.
The debate has expanded beyond Abdullahi’s remarks, raising broader concerns about the culture of impunity that appears to surround cases involving security forces. Human rights groups have long argued that unless there is consistent pressure on leaders to pursue justice, similar tragedies will continue.
Critics are also calling on Parliament to do more than just issue statements. They want legal action, transparency, and a firm stance against the use of excessive force during peaceful protests.
The June 25 protests, which took place in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), were largely peaceful until violence erupted. The demonstrations were organized in opposition to the Finance Bill, a piece of legislation that many viewed as burdensome, particularly for lower-income Kenyans.
Several young people were fatally shot near Parliament buildings during the chaos, sparking immediate outrage. The recent BBC documentary has revived painful memories and placed fresh pressure on lawmakers to act decisively.
While MP Bashir Abdullahi has tried to explain and apologize for his words, the controversy serves as a reminder that the public expects more than just words—they expect accountability, compassion, and action. The road to healing for the affected families, and for the nation, begins with justice. And justice, as many Kenyans have made clear, cannot be achieved if leaders simply “sympathise and move on.”
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MP Bashir Abdullahi Clarifies Controversial ‘We Sympathise and Move On’ Remark on BBC Documentary
