The Milimani Law Courts has granted anticipatory bail of KSh 10,000 each to four Kenyan filmmakers following a controversial weekend arrest and seizure of their equipment.

The filmmakers — Nicholas Gichuki, Brian Adagala, Markdenver Karubiu and Christopher Wamae — were arrested on unclear grounds and released on a free bond, but their electronic devices remain in the hands of authorities. The court directed their legal representatives to present them at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on May 21 for further questioning, with the matter set for mention on May 28.

Represented by lawyer and Senator Dan Maanzo, the team decried what they termed as a blatant violation of constitutional rights. “This is a clear infringement on the constitutional rights of the applicants,” said Maanzo in court, accusing investigators of bypassing legal procedure and failing to disclose the nature of the allegations at the time of arrest.

Maanzo further told the court that the filmmakers were compelled to sign documents acknowledging the seizure of their devices — without prior explanation or due process. “They only became aware, through an application filed on May 6, that the confiscation was linked to the Cybercrime Act and the documentary Blood Parliament,” he added.

The documentary reportedly probes sensitive political matters within the National Assembly, raising eyebrows over freedom of expression, press freedom and state interference.

The defence urged the court to not only grant anticipatory bail but to also dismiss the DCI’s miscellaneous application seeking to formalize the equipment seizure. “The continued retention of their devices without justification is not only unlawful but ethically questionable,” argued Maanzo.

The Law Society of Kenya has backed the filmmakers, demanding accountability and clarity over the arrests, which have sparked debate on media freedom and the limits of investigative journalism in Kenya.