Butere girls students chose not to stage their highly anticipated play, ‘echoes of war,’ during the Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals on Thursday, April 10, 2025, citing various frustrations and alleged intimidation.
The performance, scheduled for around 8AM, was abandoned after the students were reportedly denied access to public address system, a crucial component normally provided at the festival.
Without the necessary sound equipment and stage decor, the students were unable to continue with the performance.
Instead, they stood in silence, sang the National Anthem, and left the stage in tears.
Meanwhile, tensions flared on April 9, 2025, when former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, who is also the script writer of the controversial play was prevented from entering Kirobon Girls Secondary School in Rongai, Nakuru County.
Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and police confronted Malala, who had arrived to support students from Butere Girls High School.
The learners are in Nakuru for the 63rd edition of the National Drama and Film Festival. Their production, Echoes of War, authored by Malala, had earlier been prohibited by government authorities for allegedly challenging the current leadership.
Despite the ban, a court ruling issued by Justice Winfridah Okwany on Tuesday authorized the participation of the students, their instructors, and the script writer.
The students had been using Kirobon Girls as their base for final rehearsals when the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses described a heated exchange as law enforcement agents attempted to detain Malala, effectively halting his exit from the venue.
Justice Okwany’s judgment instructed Kirobon’s Chief Principal, Ms. Jennipher Omondi, to ensure that all 50 students, their teaching staff, and the playwright were given full access to the festival activities in compliance with the law.
The play, viewed by some as a direct critique of the administration, has drawn widespread attention for its bold narrative.
Although details of the storyline remain under wraps, sources indicate that it explores themes of political unrest and governance failures.
The altercation highlights growing tensions between creative expression and state control. Supporters of the production have lauded the court’s intervention, viewing it as a crucial stand for artistic freedom.
Meanwhile, the fate of Echoes of War on stage and in the public discourse remains a developing story, with many closely watching how the government, judiciary, and creative community will navigate the aftermath of the standoff.
