High Court orders Butere Girls to recall drama students for national festivals

The High Court has issued orders compelling Butere Girls High School Principal Jennipher Omondi to recall 50 drama students and facilitate their participation in the National Drama Festivals, set to begin on April 7, 2025, in Nakuru County.

The directive follows the principal’s decision to send the students home, allegedly after receiving a call from State House. 

Last week, Echoes of War was removed from the Western Regional winners’ gala, and the drama club was directed to send its members home by Monday, effectively halting preparations for the National Drama Festival in Nakuru.

Despite winning at the Butere Sub-County level and securing third place at the Western Regional Drama Festivals, the school was dropped from the festival lineup and replaced by Vihiga High School, which had ranked eighth at the regional level.

The decision to bar Echoes of War from the festival prompted legal action by Anifa Mango, a former student and passionate thespian from Kisii County. 

“That the Honourable Court, be pleased to issue an order that the Respondent retain in school and/or recall all 50 students participating in drama festivals for their participation in the National Drama Festivals scheduled for 7th April 2025 to 15th April 2025 in Nakuru County,” read Mango’s petition.

Advocate Kennedy Echesa, representing Mango, argued that the principal’s action was arbitrary, unconstitutional, and violated the students’ rights to freedom of speech, expression, and fair administrative action. 

According to Echesa, “There is no legal authority, including State House and the Ministry of Education, that has the power to block the play, especially after professional adjudicators had approved it at multiple competition levels.”

Echesa further urged the court: “Unless this Honourable Court intervenes and hears the matter urgently, the Respondent will proceed to illegally exclude the 50 students of Butere Girls High School from performing at the Drama Festival, which opportunity they earned fair and square through their dedication and hard work.”

This is not the first time Butere Girls has faced suppression of its artistic expression.

In 2013, the school’s play Shackles of Doom was initially barred from the National Drama Festival by the Ministry of Education, which claimed it depicted imaginary inequality and could incite public unrest. The intervention of the late Justice David Majanja allowed the students to perform, setting a precedent for artistic freedom in school drama festivals.

Justice Fridah Okwany has now ordered both the petitioner and Principal Omondi to appear before her tomorrow for further directions on the matter.