Kenya’s national high school drama festival descended into chaos this week after police fired tear gas at a crowd gathered to watch Echoes of War, a politically charged play performed by Butere Girls High School. The incident, which unfolded in Nakuru on Thursday, sparked widespread condemnation from rights groups, politicians, and the public. Echoes of War tells the story of a fictional kingdom where disillusioned youth challenge a corrupt, authoritarian regime. Its themes—youth unrest, police brutality, and political suppression—resonate strongly with real-world frustrations in Kenya, especially following the 2023 protests against tax hikes and rising youth unemployment.
The play was initially disqualified under unclear circumstances by the drama festival’s organizers, reportedly for its political undertones. However, Kenya’s High Court reversed the decision, ordering the play’s reinstatement. Tensions escalated when Cleophas Malala, a former senator and the play’s writer, was detained by police the night before the performance, preventing him from meeting the cast for final rehearsals. On Thursday morning, students walked out of the competition venue, singing the national anthem and demanding Malala’s release. Riot police sealed off the venue and used tear gas to disperse the growing crowd of supporters and spectators.
Malala was later released without charges and praised the students’ actions as “an act of heroic restoration.” He vowed to ensure the play reaches a broader Kenyan audience. “This is not just theater—it’s truth staged,” he said. Education Minister Julius Ogamba criticized Malala’s involvement, questioning whether political figures should be writing plays for students. However, critics accused the government of censorship and overreach, including Amnesty International, which called the police action part of a “broader pattern of state repression.”
Opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) also condemned the use of tear gas near students and called for the play to proceed without interference. The fate of Echoes of War at the festival remains uncertain. Finalists are expected to perform at State House in front of President William Ruto, a political adversary of Malala. The incident mirrors past controversies: Malala’s 2013 play, Shackles of Doom, was also banned before the courts intervened to allow its performance—again by Butere Girls.
Observers say the latest drama underscores deeper tensions in Kenya, where young people are increasingly using art and protest to push back against political and economic marginalization.
