Talent galore as the Kenya national drama festival kicks off in Meru.

The 57th edition of the Kenya National Schools, Colleges and Universities Drama Festival opened yesterday with action-packed thrillers.

St Joseph’s RC Primary School from Nzoia region cracked the audience’s ribs with their play ‘Iris in the Desert’, written by Dycall Saya and Tim Sumba.

The play depicts a society embroiled in turmoil with children bearing the brunt of war.

Just like a beautiful iris flower in cactus and wild shrubs, children feel the pain when criminals such as cattle rustlers strike. Class Four’s Precious Cheloban was the toast of the play. She executed her role with precision and commitment to character.

Some of the participants in the 57th edition of the Kenya Schools, Colleges and Universities Drama Festival in Meru in action yesterday. (PHOTO: GEORGE ORIDO/ STANDARD)

Ole Sankale Primary School from Narok presented a moving choral verse on rape, especially by people in whose hands girls are supposed to be safe.

‘My Mango’ depicts an episode of a girl going through hell as she seeks help after being raped by her father.

In a cultural creative dance, Zombe Primary School entertained with their item, ‘Mumo’ in Kikamba about a bright girl with disability.

The girl’s joy of getting admission to a national school is short-lived as reality sinks of her inability to pay school fees.

But she overcomes this through the intervention of well-wishers who respond to her plea and she doesn’t disappoint when she finishes with flying colours – top of the class.

Peaceful environment

“We wish to play like other kids, we wish to live in a peaceful environment and go to school like others,” goes part of the lyrics from the dance choreographed by Stephen Kimanzi and produced by Tony Kilonzo. Soloists Grace Wambua, Kanza Kisimu and Damaris Wambua did a great job.

“Habari spoti naleta, wenu Hassan Juma, Asenali kala sita mpaka sasa wameduwaa,” announces Vivian Jindwa, a pupil from Mombasa’s St Joseph’s Herman Max Primary School in the verse ‘Natamani’ by Joseph Mramba.

Chavakali High School’s play in Kiswahili, ‘Chamchela Chuki’ was pure thrill.

The play depicts youthful Kenyans eager to get jobs in the Middle East with high hopes of making it economically. They later find out that they have been conned by unscrupulous human traffickers.

The play by I Kahi an L Ateya seeks tougher regulations to ensure safety of Kenyans seeking greener pastures abroad.

And using brass musical instruments to enhance the mood, ‘Tamara The Princess’ by Cheptenye High School from Mau Region dwells on the plight of Albinos.

‘Tamara the Princess’ tells the story of 70 per cent of world albinos who live in East Africa, where in 2013, 2,300 of them were murdered in Tanzania, Kenya and DR Congo alone.

Dispels myth

The play calls for compassion and understanding and dispels the myth that albino body parts can be used as charms.

Participants on stage at the Kenya Schools, Colleges and Universities Drama Festival in Meru yesterday. (PHOTO: GEORGE ORIDO/ STANDARD)

But a standing ovation and the most deafening applause was spared for Nyabondo High School’s Paminus Owino with his comedy, ‘It’s hard to be a teacher!’

Directed by Bernard Owino, the comedy took the audience through the tribulations of being a teacher against the background of late salaries and intimidation of their unions which hurts their relationship with students.

Today Meru Governor Peter Munya will officially open the festival that has brought together 13,000 participants from across the country.