A Nairobi court has extended orders preventing the arrest of four filmmakers as the state pushes for more time to complete investigations.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) told the court on Tuesday it needs three more weeks to wrap up inquiries into the case. But lawyers for the accused called the delay unfair and questioned the legality of the earlier arrests.
“We object to the DPP’s request,” said the defence in court. “Our clients were unlawfully detained and their equipment seized without consent. The prosecution cannot keep them in limbo.”
The four—Nicholas Wambugu, Brian Adagala, Mark Denver Karubiu, and Christopher Wamae—were arrested on May 3 at their Karen-based studio. Police took their phones, computers, and filming gear. They were later released, but the threat of re-arrest has loomed since.
According to the prosecution, the seized gadgets are still under forensic review. The state insists that the items were taken under a lawful search warrant issued by another court.
Still, questions remain over how the arrest was carried out, and whether due process was followed.
In a move that could shed light on the matter, the court has summoned Chief Inspector Nixon Kinyua and Mogaah Wekesa Wechuli, both linked to the arrest. They are expected to appear in court on June 16.
The court’s decision is seen as a small win for the filmmakers, who say they were targeted without clear charges. The defence urged the court to compel the ODPP to make its intentions clear—either proceed with charges or drop the case.
So far, the prosecutors have not revealed what prompted the investigation in the first place.
The case has drawn quiet attention in Kenya’s creative circles, where some fear increasing pressure on artists and filmmakers. It also raises wider concerns about how state agencies treat those in the creative industry.
The court will review progress in mid-June. Until then, the filmmakers remain free—at least on paper.
