Chaos erupted in Nakuru after police lobbed teargas canisters to disperse a group of students and the public who were celebrating the exit of Butere Girls from the National Drama Festivals.
The actors declined to perform the play and instead sang the National Anthem and exited.
The play was disqualified during the Western Region Drama Festivals under unclear circumstances.
A subsequent High Court ruling overturned that decision, reinstating the play and ordering its inclusion in the national lineup.
Following the court order, students who had already left for the April holidays were recalled to resume rehearsals.
On Thursday, the students arrived aboard their bus and were ushered onto stage at Melvin Jones Academy but instead sang the national anthem and left.
Butere Girls did not perform, they just sang the national anthem and left.” Ken Echesa, Cleophas Malala’s lawyer said.
Malala is the director of the play and had been detained far away at the Eldama Ravine police station in the drama.
The students also demanded the presence of Malala before they boycotted the performance.
They then drove out of the compound where a crowd was waiting.
Some members of the public joined in singing Ruto Must Go, No Butere no drama chants before anti riot police arrived and lobbed a teargas canister at them.
A section of Butere Girls students had gotten off their bus after refusing to perform their controversial play ‘Echoes of War’ and singing the national anthem instead.
Some students sought refuge at Menengai Secondary School.
The school bus was escorted out of town by police along Section 58 Road.
DAPK leader Eugene Wamalwa led a group of lawyers to the school while demanding the release of Malala.
Police were deployed to the venue where the play was being played on Thursday April 10. Even journalists were barred from accessing the venue with only students and officials being allowed in.
Kanu chairman Gideon Moi joined the condemnation of arrest and detention of Malala over the play.
He said Kenya prides itself on a robust Bill of Rights that guarantees freedom of expression.
“Yet, security agencies are deployed to suppress a high school play while turning a blind eye to lawlessness by armed gangs occupying public spaces.”
“This troubling trend signals a government that has lost touch with its people and is dangerously veering off course. The impact of rising economic hardships and growing public dissatisfaction cannot be resolved through intimidation and fear,” he said.
He also urged the government to undertake an honest self-assessment and realign its priorities with its core mandate by shifting and consolidating its focus toward impactful policy interventions in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
“Providing a conducive environment for private sector-led economic development and creating wealth through industrialization will ultimately unlock youth employment, enhance livelihoods and ensure peace and stability.”
“The young girls of Butere are not enemies of the state but the daughters of this nation. Rather than be punished for speaking the truth through art, they should be celebrated,” he said.
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