Schools shine at drama festivals in Nakuru

The 63rd edition of the annual Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Film Festivals kicked off in style at Melvin Jones, Nakuru, with students delivering memorable performances.

Anchored on the theme ‘Leveraging Technology to Nurture Learners’ Potential in Creative Arts’, the productions fearlessly tackled a spectrum of pressing issues, from the devastating consequences of road carnage and bad leadership to education and other societal challenges.

Through compelling plays, dances and poetry, the young artists demonstrated a deep understanding of the challenges faced by learners in today’s society.

Golden Elites Academy from Kisumu staged a play titled ‘My Name is Joy’, which addressed the bullying of special needs children, particularly those who are physically challenged.

Kitengela International School delivered a moving choral verse, ‘Sherehe’, focusing on the plight of persons with disabilities who are often overlooked. Alaro Junior School from Homa Bay performed a play titled ‘Portraits of Life’, highlighting the effects of drug abuse.

The documentary ‘Jinxed Junction’ by Londiani Boys offered a raw account of the tragic Londiani Junction accident that claimed 53 lives last year. The students portrayed how this notorious black spot has affected their lives and emphasized how road safety enforcement and adherence can help prevent such tragedies.

Waa Girls presented a narrative, ‘Deputy School Captain’, which explored how elected leaders often forget their values and begin favouring only those who voted for them. In the play, the deputy captain faces consequences for his bias and is reminded that elected leaders must serve all students equally, regardless of ideologies.

PCA Makupa from the Coast showcased a play titled ‘Winners’ Fears’. The plot centres on Anissa, an industrious girl who joins an international school but faces negativity from the resident students. Despite excelling through hard work, she earns more enemies than expected.

Bishop Atundo Kimaeti from Western Kenya performed a Swahili spoken word piece titled ‘Kizazi cha Mtandao’, which focused on the negative impact of social media on the youth, despite its potential for educational use. Modern technology has emerged as a central theme for many schools.

Rift Valley’s St. Peter’s Chemalul presented a narrative titled ‘The Swapping Game’, focusing on the negative influence of modern tech, while Mlimani Comprehensive School performed ‘The Assignment’, depicting the effects of unmonitored technology use in classrooms, where a student watches cartoons instead of doing homework.

Voi Primary School told a powerful story of struggle, guidance, and triumph, highlighting the impact of a supportive teacher and the integration of ICT in the CBC (Competency-Based Curriculum). AIC Kaptien, through their narrative ‘Kashopingi’, addressed discrimination against the boy child.

St. Brigid Akoret performed ‘Reason With Me’, a play advocating for nurturing children’s passions and interests to help them pursue meaningful careers.

Bungoma High School brought the benefits of the Competency-Based Curriculum to light with a cultural performance, ‘Biraro’. The Bukusu creative showcased how a student uses CBC-acquired skills to resolve a personal problem. Since its adoption, CBC has received both praise and criticism from various stakeholders.

The Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama and Film Festivals continue to serve as a valuable platform for young and upcoming artists to showcase their talents in film, drama, dance and poetry, promoting creativity, awareness, and critical reflection on societal issues.