City-based Pearls theatre troupe loses two members in night attack

Thespians of Pearls Quality Edutainment were excited as they set off last week from Nairobi on a two-day journey to Mandera for a series of performances.

But their excitement ended yesterday when, in the thick of the night, the hotel where they were performing was attacked by terrorists.

Armed with hand grenades and semi-automatic firearms, the terrorists attacked the members, among other patrons, in what seems to have been a target on Christians.

Two thespians died and three others were critically injured.

“We have received the sad news of our members being attacked in Mandera and we have lost a female and male member,” said one of the officials Leone Haroun, who missed the trip because he had travelled to Gatanga for his cousin’s burial last weekend. The dead actors are Ken Kinyanjui and Miss Lisa Achieng, who were described as some of the most dependable members of the troupe.

Edudancan Ochoji, who is the producer of the troupe, was one of those who suffered severe injuries. The critical victims were airlifted to Nairobi on Mandera Governor Ali Roba’s intervention.

Other survivors of the troupe include Beth Ndinda, Felix John, Faith Nyambeki, Boniface Mwenda, Agatha Mwangi, a Miss Veronica and a Mr Wycliffe.

Pearls Quality Edutainment had travelled to Mandera to help KCSE candidates in the far-flung region prepare for the forthcoming exams.

Based in Nairobi, the group specialises in performing English and Kiswahili school set books so as to make it easier for students to understand the literature through visualised performances.

They had planned to stay for another week to perform in over 20 schools in Mandera.

SOMBRE MOOD

Some of their performances were on Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the City, Ken Walibora’s Kidagaa, Bertolt Bretch’s Caucasian Chalk Circle, Margaret Ogolla’s The River and The Source, among others.

A sombre mood engulfed Lisa’s home in Civil Servants Kariobangi South Estate, as mourners thronged the place to condole with the family.

A first born in a family of two, Lisa who completed her KCSE exams last year at St Mary’s Runda School, was the hope of the family. Her father Martin Abiero and mother Anne Ochieng are both business people.

“Lisa was such a lively and warm person. We will miss her friendship,” said Ruth Akinyi, a neighbour.

And the news of the horrendous attack was received with shock by the theatre fraternity.

“Our hearts go out to our colleagues who have perished and those who have been injured,” said the Chairman of the Stage Books Actors Association Michael Mboya who was chairing a meeting of its members at the Kayole Social Hall yesterday afternoon.

Mr Haroun, who is also the director of the plays that were being staged by the group, couldn’t believe that such a fate had befallen his colleagues.

“It is horrendous and sad. There’s’ nothing they did wrong. All they wanted was to use their skills to contribute to the development and empowerment of young people thorough theatre,” he said.

Questions have been raised why the team travelled all the way to Mandera yet Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i had ordered a blanket ban on performances of school set books.

“We have been grounded since the inhuman decree barring us form gainful employment by the minister. The group went there because most of us are no longer able to pay rent or afford food and it is unbearable,” said James Wepo, who is a freelance director working with such text books actors.