Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma Targets BBC After Report Links KDF to Protester Killing
Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament, Peter Kaluma, has called for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to be banned from operating in Kenya. His demands follow the release of a documentary titled Blood Parliament on Sunday, April 27, which has sparked intense debate nationwide.
Taking to social media the following day, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislator accused the BBC of deliberately trying to incite anger among Kenyans. “Ban the BBC in Kenya,” Kaluma asserted. “The role played by the media in any democracy is too important to be discharged irresponsibly. The media can build a greater democracy or destroy an otherwise stable state. Lest we forget, the Rwanda mass annihilation would not have occurred were it not for reckless media.”
Kaluma further contended that Blood Parliament was not only “twisted, partial, and reckless” but was also “intended to incite chaos in Kenya.” He called on relevant government agencies to act swiftly by revoking the broadcaster’s licence. According to him, the media’s power to influence societies demands high standards of responsibility, and failure to uphold such standards could endanger national stability.
The controversial BBC exposé centers on the anti-finance bill protests that occurred on June 25, which tragically led to the deaths of over 60 individuals. Since its release, the documentary has captivated public attention, stirring a variety of reactions among Kenyans.
Through interviews with prominent figures like activists Boniface Mwangi and Hanifa Adan, student journalist Allan Ademba, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo, and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, the documentary paints a vivid picture of the harrowing protests.
Furthermore, an analysis of more than 5,000 protest images linked the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to the shootings of at least three protestors.
Many young people who took part in the demonstrations were especially shaken by the revelations. One user on X (formerly Twitter) shared, “The BBC documentary touched me somewhere, man. To hell with this government and all it stands for. At least we know it isn’t standing with its citizens.”
Another user lamented, “For the BBC to air such a documentary, after all this while and IPOA had not done anything, it is an indictment of IPOA. It is time that Kenyans asked if we need IPOA or not. They are a toothless organisation and a burden to the taxpayer.” IPOA refers to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, an agency established to monitor police conduct.
Adding to the outrage, lawyer Miguna Miguna recalled past atrocities. He said, “I relayed information about hundreds of innocent people finished off in Githurai and cremated in Kahawa Barracks in June 2024. At the very least, we must demand an INDEPENDENT investigation and judicial inquiry into the brutalities committed by police, military, NIS, and Kenya Forest Service between 2024 and 2025. We need accountability and justice for the victims.”
Meanwhile, Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa expressed his anguish succinctly, stating, “Watching this, it hurts. It surely hurts!”
However, not all reactions were in support of the documentary. Several politicians and bloggers aligned with the government dismissed the film as misleading. Some criticized the credibility of the interviewees featured in the exposé, while others argued that the focus on past tragedies detracted from Kenya’s progress since the Gen-Z protests.
Kaluma’s current appeal to ban the BBC draws parallels with events from 2018, during which the Kenyan government temporarily shut down three major television stations. This action came during the mock swearing-in of ODM party leader Raila Odinga, a move that blocked many Kenyans from following the controversial event.
Despite the calls for action, the BBC remains a major player in international journalism, and its documentary has raised significant questions about human rights, state accountability, and the role of the media in democratic societies.
As the conversation unfolds, the government faces mounting pressure to respond appropriately. Will Kenya choose to silence one of the world’s largest broadcasters, or will it seek alternative paths to address the issues raised? For now, the nation watches closely, divided between outrage, sorrow, and demands for justice.
In Other News: BBC Investigation Exposes KDF Involvement in Gen Z Shootings During Invasion of Parliament
Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma Targets BBC After Report Links KDF to Protester Killing
