By Grace Gilo
Debates continue across the country following today’s unfolding drama at the 67th edition of the Kenya National Drama Festivals held in Nakuru County where Butere Girls High School declined to perform their much anticipated and contested play Echoes of War.
This development follows last night’s arrest of the play’s director, Cleophas Malala, in a fracas with police outside Kirobon Girls High School, where he had gone to oversee final rehearsals.
Malala was barred from accessing the venue, and in the chaos that followed, six journalists were reportedly assaulted.
The students say their decision to pull out was due to various forms of sabotage including restrictions on their backdrop, sound system access, and the absence of their director during critical rehearsal hours.
Upon his release in the morning, Malala claimed that it is the President who feels threatened by the play’s message, although he says no clear charge was communicated during his arrest.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Human Rights Commission is demanding full accountability from top state and education officials, describing the interference with the play as a direct assault on the students’ constitutional rights to freedom of thought, expression, and opinion.
The Commission argues that the government is sending a dangerous message to the youth, one that punishes creativity and discourages confronting injustice through art.
Among its demands, KHRC wants the Cabinet and Principal Secretaries for Interior and Education, the Inspector-General of Police, and all officials involved in disrupting the performance to resign and face prosecution for abuse of office and contempt of court.
They also called for the immediate and unconditional release of Cleophas Malala and for the students to be allowed to perform Echoes of War without fear, interference, or reprisals.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party, through its Secretary General, Sen. Edwin Sifuna, has condemned the mistreatment in a statement.
The SG reiterated that the freedom of expression guaranteed by our constitution allows people of all ages to express themselves freely, even if we do not particularly like what they have to say.
“We wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible, the mistreatment of Butere Girls High School, journalists and other festival goers and join other Kenyans in demanding that the authorities allow the young artists to stage their play like all else,” stated Sifuna.