Kibaki pledges academy to tap youth talent

By George Orido

President Kibaki hosted the best 10 performers in the just-concluded Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival at State House, Nairobi.

The President, on Friday, disclosed the ministries of Education and Youth Affairs, with support from Unicef, will establish a pioneer youth academy.

The academy, he said, opened its doors last month at Kasarani, Nairobi, and will draw most of its students from the drama and music festivals.

"It is my hope that talented students specialising in music, dance, film and theatre will be well prepared to take up professional pursuits to enable them boost their skills and self-confidence," he said.

He noted the Government effort to promote co-curricular activities in educational institutions has been successful.

"This year, over 7,200 participants were involved in the festival at the national level and over 100,000 at the lower levels," he said.

Invited guests at the function-included teachers, directors, producers and sponsors, who shared in the production of plays, dance, narratives and verses.

He disclosed the Government spends about Sh380 million on the festival annually, from zonal to national level.

Among the highlights was that of Denise Namudunda, a five-year-old from Mwangaza Day in Nairobi who kept guests on the edge of their seats with her solo verse The Primary Class.

In a most persuasive fashion, she put on spot the burdensome school curriculum that has left children with no time to play.

"Hakuna kulala," she lamented, to a thunderous applause from her audience.

Later, she had a photo opt with the Head of State accompanied by her four and a half year old classmate Blessings Kalunde.

Boy child

And to stress the issue of management in schools, Lions Primary School from Nakuru presented an entertaining play, Three is a Crowd.

Using a stylistic device of ‘a play in a play’ and clad in rich costumes, the pupils left no doubt three is never a crowd as long as they work as a team.

Golden Elites did not disappoint with their verse, Jungle Paratroopers, either. They used the scouts and girl guides movement to show how neglected the boy child has become.

Jungle Troopers advocates for a balanced gender consideration, where girls must not be advantaged at the expense of the boy child.

Kirima Girls took the child rights issue a notch higher with their creative dance, Kaa Chonjo.

The dance, deriving from Mwomboko and other Agikuyu formations, is about a politician who takes advantage of prolonged drought in the village and lures young women to the city for prostitution, having promised non-existing jobs.

He is later arrested and charged with human trafficking. The rendition of Kaa Chonjo’s makes it an exciting dance to watch. It clearly brought out the festival theme of ‘Developing Leadership Skills Through Drama’.

The US Embassy through its Alumni Association sponsored the event.

In his speech, the President lauded the festival, calling it "appropriate for us as a developing nation".

The only university present, Marist University, performed a verse, 100 Million Shillings.

The verse narrates how hard and tempting it can be not to steal Sh100 million when one’s children are hungry.

But he also put to question the integrity of investigation processes when an officer with a rungu is arrested for shooting.

Sterlon Odero showed his prowess in verse with internalisation of the persona and ease with language, making him a consummate storyteller.

Marist University was also declared the best team at the just concluded festival in Kisumu.

The festival Chairman Chokera Kahura requested the President to consider thespians and teachers of drama for Head of State commendations.

Next year’s festival will be held in Nairobi.