NAIROBI, Kenya — A searing new BBC documentary has reignited national outrage over the deadly events of June 25, 2024, when scores of young protesters were gunned down during mass demonstrations against Kenya’s controversial Finance Bill. The 37-minute exposé, Blood Parliament, released on YouTube on Monday, meticulously reconstructs the tragic day through advanced 3D modeling, forensic video analysis, and emotional eyewitness testimony — and, for the first time, names the shooters.
The documentary traces the chain of violence that erupted just minutes after Parliament passed the Finance Bill 2024 by a 195 to 106 margin. The legislation, widely opposed by Kenyans — especially Gen Z citizens — introduced sweeping new taxes that critics warned would deepen economic inequality and burden already struggling households.
As thousands filled the streets of Nairobi, what began as a peaceful protest turned into one of the darkest days in Kenya’s modern political history.
On Parliament Road, 39-year-old software engineer and Sunday school teacher David Chege, and Ericsson Mutisya, a 25-year-old butcher, were the first confirmed fatalities. According to the documentary, both men were shot at close range by a uniformed officer seen kneeling and opening fire on unarmed protesters. At least five others were injured in the same volley of gunfire.
The chaos escalated as demonstrators stormed Parliament — a symbolic act unprecedented in Kenya’s post-independence era. Amid the confusion and gunfire, Eric Shieni, a 27-year-old University of Nairobi finance student, was shot in the head while trying to escape through a section of the perimeter fence.
Shieni died instantly.
In a revelation set to intensify public scrutiny, the BBC’s forensic team identified the man who shot Shieni as a soldier from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) — a chilling confirmation of military involvement in the deadly crackdown on civilians. The soldier, recognizable by a white shoulder patch, matte green helmet, and tan boots, was wielding a solid stock rifle as he fired into the fleeing crowd.
The graphic revelations have re-opened national wounds and sparked fresh calls for accountability.
Among the many affected was veteran journalist Willis Raburu, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his emotional response:
“Watching Blood Parliament left me hollow, shaken, and profoundly heartbroken. Angst, tears, pain. Each scene, each face, sear into your soul: the young, struck down while demanding dignity, justice, and change,” Raburu wrote on Monday.
“It’s rage, raw and burning, at the cruelty inflicted without mercy… The blood spilled on those streets isn’t just history. It’s a living wound, a call to conscience for every Kenyan.”
The June 25 protests were part of a growing wave of civic unrest led by a younger generation disillusioned with entrenched corruption, joblessness, and political neglect. But the state’s brutal response marked a grim turning point — with Blood Parliament now serving as a powerful and painful record of what unfolded.
As Kenya continues to grapple with the trauma, the documentary offers not just a chronicle of violence, but a rallying cry — to remember the fallen, honour their courage, and demand justice.
🎥 Watch the full documentary “Blood Parliament” on BBC Africa’s YouTube Channel
About The Author
