BBC Investigation Links KDF Officers to Parliament Protest Shootings

A new investigation by the BBC has linked Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers to acts of brutality during the anti-government protests on June 25 last year, where demonstrators stormed the Parliament Buildings.

Blood Parliament, the BBC documentary alleges that aside from police officers, there were other shooters, possibly drawn from KDF, particularly the Kenya Army, involved in the Gen Z protests.

The investigation, which runs for 37 minutes, is based on digital evidence showing the killing of dozens of youths.

One of the findings was that one shooter had a unique dress code, unlike the plainclothes police officers at the scene, raising doubts about whether he belonged to the police units.

“In the video of the officer shouting, ‘uaa!'(which means kill in English), the shooter’s back was to the camera. But the BBC compared his body armour, riot shield, and headgear with those of every police officer at the scene.

In his case, he had an upturned neck guard. We matched his distinctive uniform to an officer in a video recorded seconds later.

There, he made sure to hide his face before firing into the crowd. We do not know his name,” part of the BBC report stated.

It was also claimed that one of the shooters during the invasion of Parliament was linked to the Central Police Station in Nairobi.

However, when the BBC tried to trace the officer, the efforts failed, creating confusion about his actual station of assignment.

Efforts to get a comment from the National Police Service (NPS) and the police station where the officer was supposedly based were unsuccessful.

A BBC screengrab showing anti-government protestors accessing Parliament buildings on June 25, 2024.

The NPS said that only the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) can investigate police misconduct, adding that it cannot probe its own officers.

Claims dismissed

At the same time, the Kenya Defence Forces dismissed claims that its officers participated in the shooting, stating that it remains a neutral and professional service.

On the evening of June 25, then Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the deployment of KDF officers to help police handle the unrest.

In a gazette notice, Duale said the decision came after some demonstrators targeted critical infrastructure, posing a threat to national security.

“Under Article 241 (3) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya as read with sections 31 (1) (a), 31 (1) (c), 33 (1), 34 (1) and 34 (2) of the Kenya Defence Forces Act, (Cap. 199), the Kenya Defence Forces is deployed on the 25th June, 2024 in support of the National Police Service,” read part of the gazette notice.

However, the deployment was announced after Parliament had already been invaded.

Following the week of protests, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported that 39 people had died and 361 others were injured in different parts of the country.

The protests were triggered by the controversial Finance Bill that aimed to raise Sh346 billion in taxes, and which was later withdrawn.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula later revealed that property worth Sh94 million was destroyed during the protests at Parliament.

He said an insurance company assessed the damage, adding, “That is the damage we suffered. So the insurance firm has taken up the matter.”

He further explained that when the protestors broke into Parliament Buildings on June 25, they vandalised furniture, damaged the structures, smashed television screens, and tore flags.

Wetang’ula assured that taxpayers would not bear the cost as the insurance company would handle the repairs and replacements.

During the chaos on June 25, protestors opposed to the Finance Bill 2024 managed to break through Parliament’s security barricades.

Earlier that day, the Bill had passed with 195 MPs voting in favour and 106 against.

As the protestors stormed Parliament, some were shot outside the building, while others set fire to a section housing parliamentary offices.

Gunfire could be heard as police officers struggled to control the crowd.

Several items were vandalised, including essential equipment used for parliamentary sessions, windows were smashed, and flags were destroyed.

Currently, only one police officer, linked to the Central Police Station, faces possible murder charges in connection with the killings.

His case was adjourned on March 10 after a key witness asked for more time to submit critical documents to the court.

The full extent of involvement by officers outside the police service remains unclear, even as human rights groups continue to demand accountability for the deaths and injuries recorded during the demonstrations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​