BBC Denies Stage-Managing Characters in Documentary on Night Runners among the Luo Community

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has responded to claims of stage-managing characters for the production of a recently aired documentary about night runners among the Luo community.

In a statement, the London-based international media has refuted the claims, stating that the documentary was done on the consent of the persons featured.

“The latest BBC Africa Eye investigation “night runners” was made with voluntary fully informed consent from members of the community featured."

“There was no dramatized footage in this documentary. The BBC’s editorial standards and commitment to accuracy mean that we would not feature dramatized footage without clear labeling,” the company asserts.

In the nearly one hour long documentary, BBC aired a footage of the faces of the people who have allegedly been part of the ‘business'.

Part of the production reads: “The Luo people of East Africa have spoken about ‘night runners’ for generations. But who are these night runners? BBC Africa Eye has caught them in action.”

Following the airing of the piece, Kenyans took to social media to accuse the media house of stage-managing the people featured on the production.

An online user went ahead to release a video of a woman who was reportedly featured in the BBC documentary saying that she was not a night runner.

The lady says she was hired to take part in a play only to learn later that it was aired as a documentary.

“We’re getting quite a few comments saying this is scripted or staged. This investigation was made with voluntary, fully informed consent from members of the community featured. There was no dramatized footage in this documentary,” BBC notes.

“We stand by our journalism and will continue to highlight social issues that are relevant to our African audience.”