'Echoes of War': Drama as police bar Malala from students' camp

There was an altercation between police and former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, after he was blocked from accessing Butere Girls Secondary School, at Kirobon Girls Secondary School in Rongai, Nakuru County.

The Butere Girls students are in Nakuru City to participate in the 63rd National Drama and Film Festivals. Their play, titled Echoes of War, had been banned by the State. However, the High Court ruled that the students and Malala, who is the scriptwriter, should be allowed to attend the event in Nakuru.

In what appeared to be an attempt at arrest, DCI officers stopped Malala from leaving Kirobon Girls’ premises, where the students were rehearsing.

The play, which was banned from being performed following a directive from the State House, has stirred controversy due to its content, which is seen as critical of the current administration.

In a strongly worded ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Winfridah Okwany directed Chief Principal Ms. Jennipher Omondi to ensure the immediate participation of 50 students, their teachers, and the playwright in the upcoming national event.

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Malala argued that it was unfair to block students from rehearsing a play they had invested time in.

"The students had earlier been released to go home and haven’t had enough time to practice. It’s unfair to allow other students to perform while those from Butere Girls are not allowed to," Malala said.

He further stated that political influence should not interfere with students who are simply performing a play.

Tuesday's court directive also disqualified St. Mary’s Kibabii from the festivals, declaring that the school did not meet the qualification criteria and had been wrongfully included—allegedly as part of a deliberate attempt to sideline Butere Girls.

Meanwhile, discussions on the Ministry of Education’s preparedness to effectively integrate Arts and Sports as viable pathways in senior secondary schools took center stage during the ongoing 63rd National Drama and Film Festivals in Nakuru City.

Thespians and teachers questioned how the Arts, in particular, would be mainstreamed, given the existing challenges in the creative sector, especially as the first cohort of Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) learners prepares to transition to senior school next year.

These discussions took place during the inaugural conference, which was held alongside the festivals and featured experts from the creative sector.

During the conference, it was revealed that although Kenya’s creative industry hold significant untapped potential, it receives minimal support from the government.

Michael Pundo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Cultural Centre, noted, “Because there are no current statistics to show how much the creative industry is contributing to the economy, policy makers give it very little attention.”

The Arts and Sports Science pathway focuses on nurturing creativity and physical abilities, preparing students for careers in the arts and sports sectors.

Students enrolled in this pathway will study subjects such as Music, Dance, Fine Arts, Theatre, and Sports Science. This pathway aims to prepare students for careers in professional sports, arts management, music production, theatre, fitness training, and related fields.

However, the discussions regarding the overlooked creative industry raised questions about how the Ministry plans to mainstream this pathway, given the current challenges within the sector.

One teacher asked, “How are schools prepared to handle these pathways, considering that the arts face numerous challenges? How do we move beyond theoretical knowledge to enable students to engage in practical art that has economic benefits?”

Stakeholders expressed that the neglect of the sector has resulted in a situation where “everyone is doing something on their own,” a circumstance they believe is not helping the industry as a whole.

Pundo also said that the creative industry still lacks robust policy guidance and implementation to protect artists’ intellectual property and ensure they benefit from their creative works. Examining the music industry, he pointed out that challenges often stem from copyright issues.

“The creative economy in Nigeria is growing due to collaborations and partnerships—something we should also explore as a country,” he added.

Prof Christopher Odhiambo, Kenya National Drama and Film Festival chairman said the inaugural conference was incorporated into this year’s festivals to promote knowledge exchange.

“These conferences are eye-openers where experts share their ideas and participants can ask questions about how best to tap into the creative economy,” Prof Odhiambo said.