Nalondo special School performing a cultural Dance titled Elaputopu during the National Drama and Film Festival Gala at Melvin Jones Academy in Nakuru on April 15,2025.[Kipsang Joseph, Standard]
Last week, Nakuru played host to this year’s drama festival. The usual norm and routine that comes with such festival was, however, disrupted. An unexpected layer of drama arrested the nation’s attention; but it was real and serious. The play ‘Echoes of war’ by Butere Girls High School was rudely disrupted.
Opinions continue to be shared with various contributors advancing arguments that align with their interests. For lawyers, opinion is predictably divided; with some supporting the ban while others criticising and condemning it. It is in fact a subject of litigation. For politicians the contours of division have predictably played out. The government-allied faction sees no wrong in the State’s response, while the opposing faction has sustained its condemnation. Members of the public have not been left out of the debate either.
Those opposed to the ban view it as a deliberate attempt to curtail freedoms of thought and expression. Those in support ground their justification on what they consider obvious constitutional and legal infraction. To them, allowing a non-teaching staff to assume the lead role in the ‘Echoes of war’ offended the law. It is even worse when the supposed lead is a prominent politician – Cleophas Malala . Mr Malala’s prominent role has been viewed as resulting in the politicisation of the play. The politicisation angle particularly yields two reasons for opposition; radicalisation and misuse of children for selfish political purposes.
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By Alex Ogutu