Butere Girls Decline to Perform Echoes of War Amid Drama Festival Dispute

By Emmanul Rono

Nakuru, Kenya - On what was supposed to be a pride moment, a defining moment for the Butere Girls High School students, something went wrong with them declining to perform the Echoes of War play.

The girls appeared on the stage of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival early today, Thursday morning ready, rehearsed, and hopeful to perform well.

But in minutes, it was clear their voices would not be heard. Not because they forgot the lines, not because of stage fright but since the public address system, which they needed for their performance, was deliberately withheld from them.

Rather than perform in silence, the students made a silent, eloquent statement. They sang the National Anthem some crying, others in stunned silence and left the stage.

Their play, Echoes of War which was scripted by former Kakamega Senator, Cleophas Malala, had already caused national debate for its unflinching handling of political leadership, state violence, and protest culture topics which mirror what has been occurring in Kenya in recent times, particularly the 2024 youth protests.

Initially banned at the regional level in questionable circumstances, Echoes of War was later reinstated by a ruling of the High Court. It should have been a victory for the students and their freedom of creative expression.

But on the eve of appearing on stage, their playwright was denied access to the theater. Police reportedly hemmed him in his car and threatened to arrest him, according to Malala.

Earlier on Wednesday night, police had lobbed teargas canisters to disperse journalists who had camped outside the school to cover the unfolding standoff.

By Thursday, both journalists and members of the public were barred from accessing the festival venue at Kirobon Girls High School in Nakuru.