Kenya’s national high-school drama competition has been overshadowed by drama of its own after police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered to watch a controversial play.
Echoes of War highlights the role of digital media in government and the power of youth in changing society – with close parallels to Kenya’s current political situation.
It was initially disqualified from the drama festival under unclear circumstances, but a High Court ruling overturned the decision and ordered it to be included.
Tensions flared in the western town of Nakuru on Thursday morning when students stormed out of the venue, demanding the release of the play’s author who had been detained by police.
Cleophas Malala, the scriptwriter and a former senator who penned the production for students from Butere Girls School, was blocked by police from meeting the students for final rehearsals on Wednesday evening.
Malala was later released without charge and praised the students for boycotting the play.
“The young girls of Butere Girls’ have exercised an act of heroic restoration. I’m determined to ensure that Echoes of War is displayed before a Kenyan audience,” Malala said immediately after his release.
The students briefly sang the national anthem before dramatically leaving the hall, which was sealed off by anti-riot police, armed with batons and tear gas canisters.
“There’s no audience. Who are we performing for?” one of the girls told journalists.
They also complained about police harassment.
Following news of Malala’s arrest, large crowds had gathered outside the venue curious to watch the play.
But anti-riot police had been deployed overnight in case of trouble and they fired tear gas to disperse the would-be audience.
Education Minister Julius Ogamba questioned the involvement of Malala in the competition, saying the politician was neither a teacher nor a play director.
The row has sparked public uproar, with rights group Amnesty International saying it was “pointing to a worrying pattern of state-sponsored repression of free expression, press freedom, and the right to associate”.
Prominent opposition figure Kalonzo Musyoka condemned the police for firing tear gas near students, praising the “brave” girls for declining to perform.
In a statement, the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) demanded that the students be allowed to stage their play like all the other competitors.
The play highlights a widening gap between two generations – the old and the young – demanding change through innovation and technology.
It reflects some of Kenya’s most pressing problems, some of which sparked youth-led deadly protests last year.
