Why government stopped 'Echoes of War' play

It is now emerging that Butere Girls High School had been instructed to expunge certain sections of the ‘Echoes of War’ play in the earlier stages of the competition, allowing it to progress to the national level.

Education CS Julius Ogamba explained that the play’s deep messages, laced with politics and failure to stick to the redacted script, led to the dramatic events witnessed in Nakuru on Thursday.

In the end, the hopes of the 50 students were shattered as they failed to showcase their play that would have propelled them to greater heights.

In his statement, Ogamba explained the underlying concern of the play.

“We cannot allow people to weaponise school children against authority. Let political wars be fought by politicians outside of learning environments,” Ogamba said.

It also emerged that the insistence by former Kakamega Senator Cleopas Malala to direct the play contravened sections of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Act, leading to a scuffle with authorities.

On Thursday, Ogamba explained that the adjudicators at the sub-county level advised the script writer to expunge some of the offensive messages.

Consequently, the play had no negative sentiments at the County Level and was judged to proceed to the regional level.

Ogamba explained that the script was later significantly altered to include more offensive themes at regional level.

The CS explained that allowing the play to progress to the National level prompted the school to make alterations to avoid embarrassment.

It also emerged that the school was avoiding disqualification by not presenting a play with heavy alterations, as had previously been suggested at lower levels.

The school’s fears were founded on the provisions of regulation 19.2 of the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Film Festival Rules and Regulations 2025, that states that alteration of the script should be minimal.

“The school, therefore, felt that the script had been significantly altered and could not be presented at the National level…The school Board of Management felt that the alterations in the play would cause embarrassment to the school and sought to withdraw it from the competition,” said Ogamba.

The withdrawal, however, meant that the play was not presented to the Executive Secretary by the Regional Secretary during the Regional Secretaries' meeting held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development on March 28, 2025.

“As per procedure, when a script is not presented to the Executive Secretary, it is not scheduled  to perform at the national level. As a result, the school asked the affected learners to go home for the April holidays,” said Ogamba.

But that was not the end of it.  Courts sitting in Kakamenga and Kisii directed that the “Echoes of War” play be presented at the National Level.

On Thursday, Chief Justice Martha Koome termed as disturbing the events in Nakuru, happening against the backdrop of ‘clear and binding court orders issued by the High Court.

She said that defiance of court orders not only undermines the authority of the courts but also poses a serious threat to the rule of law, which is the bedrock of society.

“I wish to make it clear to all state organs, state officers and public officers that respect for court orders is not optional. It is a constitutional imperative that safeguards our collective commitment to the rule of law, and constitutionalism. Any deviation from this path erodes public confidence in our institutions and poses a danger to our democracy,” said Koome.

Trouble started on Wednesday when Malala, the author of the play, sought to access the students ahead of their performance, sparking a tiff with police.

Ogamba explained that this push against his entry to the performance hall was in strict compliance with TSC circular June 13, 2018, on protection of pupils/students which states: “All principals or head teachers shall ensure that for any co-curricular activity, persons not registered as teachers including teachers whose names have been removed from the register of teachers should not be incorporated in school programmes to teach, handle, manage, coach, supervise and/or assist in the teaching, handling, managing, coaching, supervision of pupils/learners.”

Ogamba said that principals who invite non-teachers to their schools to train learners in co-curricular activities are in contravention of the TSC regulations as well as the rules and regulations for the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival.

Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development CEO Prof Charles Ong’ondo expressed the value of the festival and also explained how play scripts are generated.

He said the festival is an educational activity and all must adhere to the rules.

“In learning, we have formal (drama, music, sporting activities) and informal curricular learning atmosphere. They are only supporting the mainstream curriculum,” said Prof. Ong’ondo.

Ong’ondo noted that learners, under the guidance of their teachers, are supposed to come up with the script.

“The script will guide the direction the play takes and will indicate the production expected,” he said. “In education, we do not want a script that does not have the participation of a learner.”

Prof Ong’ondo further said that the Ministry of Education allows the outsourcing of scripts.

However, the issues raised in the script should come from the mainstream formal curriculum and be discussed with teachers and learners.

“At the point of directing, the rules under TSC Act 2012 says the director should be a bonafide teacher or member of that school,” he stated.

Ong’ondo further said the play should have the right theme, good use of characters, aspect of style and good costumes and décor.

“The director may wish to highlight issues affecting the society, but the way he or she packages it matters according to the language, characters and level of learners used in the play,” he added.

He noted that the school administration must ensure the play conforms with the theme of the festival of cohesion and integration before proceeding to the next level.

“Quality assurance at all levels must be maintained to safeguard the learners' rights and interests,” said Ong’ondo.

Wilson Sossion, a script writer and director, and a former teachers' union leader, echoed the sentiments.

“Learners are the mirror of society, they should not be exploited to portray the political or social standing,” he said.