The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is facing fresh scrutiny after revelations that they allegedly installed spyware tool on the devices of filmmakers linked to the BBC’s controversial documentary, Blood Parliament.
On Wednesday, September 10, lawyer Ian Mutiso, representing the four filmmakers, disclosed that a forensic analysis conducted by the Citizen Lab uncovered spyware on the phone of activist and filmmaker Bryan Adagala. The analysis revealed that the software was installed on May 21, 2025, at 5:17 p.m. the same period when Adagala’s device was in police custody. His phone was later returned on July 10.
Citizen Lab, a global research institution that investigates digital threats to civil society and human rights, noted that the spyware used is readily available for purchase and can be easily installed on Android devices once physical access is granted.
According to the report, the spyware can secretly record phone calls, access microphone audio, read SMS and app-based messages such as WhatsApp, take screenshots, track a device’s location, and even delete or alter data. Mutiso condemned the discovery, stressing that the intrusion grossly violated his clients’ rights.
The four filmmakers Adagala, Nicholas Gichuki Wambugu, Chris Wamae, and Markdenver Karubiu were arrested on May 2, 2025, in a raid at their Karen studios. They were detained overnight at Muthaiga and Pangani Police Stations, with their equipment and hard drives confiscated. Despite their detention, the filmmakers were never formally charged and were released after a public outcry on social media demanding their freedom.
The Blood Parliament documentary, aired by the BBC earlier this year, detailed the involvement of the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in killings that occurred during the Gen Z-led protests of June 25, 2024.
This latest spyware scandal adds to mounting concerns over surveillance abuse in Kenya.