Mining and Blue Economy Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho has delved into the plight of Butere Girls High School, whose students were tear-gassed and forced to forfeit their performance of the controversial play Echoes of War, blaming leaders for taking national politics to the school level and using school-going children to portray their political agenda.
Reacting to the drama at the ongoing National Drama Festivals in Nakuru, where Butere Girls were set to perform the play, the CS revealed that it was unfortunate that politics have been lowered to schools, contrary to the country's traditions.
"I find it deeply unfortunate that we are lowering our politics to the level of schools, involving schoolchildren, or using methods that go against our traditions," the CS stated.
''It is our responsibility as leaders to protect dignity and discipline in our children, and we must remember we have only one country, and what we inculcate in our children has a long-term effect,'' the CS continued.
Protests erupted at the Nakuru drama festival after the Butere Girls' drama team refused to perform their play, demanding the release of their director and playwright, Cleophas Malala. There was a heavy presence of police and the use of tear gas. Malala had also been apprehended and taken to the Eldama Ravine police station but was later released on Thursday.
According to the play's synopsis, Echoes of War is a play portraying the different ideologies in the society between the old and the young people in the community.
"This play is a hyperbolic attempt to illustrate the widening gap between two generations: the old and the young," reads part of the synopsis.
The drama elicited a heated debate online, with some supporting the play while others castigated the playwright for allegedly using the students to portray his political ideologies.
On his part, the Siaya governor has supported the play, revealing that it was right to perform.
''US Supreme Court: 'Neither students nor teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.' Hongera Butere Girls High School,'' Orengo said while quoting the US Supreme Court.
Activist Okiya Omtatah has condemned the developments, revealing that this is not the first time Malala's plays are being gagged. While citing a 2013 play, 'Shackles of Doom', written by Malala, Omtatah stressed the importance of freedom of speech in the country.
''Now, over a decade later, Echoes of War by the same Butere girls, faces similar resistance at the national level. This is not just about one play, it’s about defending the very right to free expression in our education system. Let them speak, create, and inspire without fear of retribution! Haki yao, sauti yao!" Omtatah said.
Other leaders like Wilson Sossion, Philip Etale, and Robert Alai have castigated Malala over the play.
''If Malala is not a teacher, even if he has all the scripts in the festivals under his name, he cannot run to the drama festival villages and direct our students,'' Sossion partly said.
