If we can't face up to the truth in schools' theatre, how about eating cake and having it?

President William Ruto addresses residents after the launch of the Sogoo-Melelo-Ololung'a Road on the second day of his tour of Narok County, May 7, 2025. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

I heard it on the grapevine that mandarins at the schools’ national drama fest have reportedly moved to censor “political” messaging in performances.

Consequently, any performances bearing the word “Singapore,” which evokes the nonsense being bandied around by politicians, would be knocked from contest.

Similarly, it is claimed that the dramafest officials are extra-sensitive to any depictions that ridicule the nation’s leadership, so any insinuations, for instance, about Prezzo Bill Ruto’s receding hairline, would not be allowed to pass.

These directives appear to be in direct response to Cleophas Malala’s sketchy play that garnered a lot of attention when the censors tried to lock it out. Malala is best known as the former Secretary General of the ruling coalition, UDA, before he was kicked out.

Malala’s recent quip, in the aftermath of Prezzo Ruto’s edict to his detractors to eat less and go to the gym, was met with Malala’s acerbic wit: He wondered if Prezzo Ruto’s gym is a barber shop as well, given that his hair keeps dwindling every time he works out.

Theatre is a reflection of society, and attempting to stifle creations that don’t sit well with those in power is an exercise in futility. Youngsters don’t invent corruption; it is the lived experience for a majority of the citizenry. Barring such depictions doesn’t take away the vice.

If we can’t face up to such truths, and have no way of changing our circumstances, given that corruption has become a way of life, could we accept financial inducement, for instance, but still vote with our conscience?

And if school children cannot be allowed to say their piece, since we can’t stand the truth, given the centrality of dishonesty as one of our foundational ethos, could we introduce curricular that promotes these vices, right from the start?

I mean, let’s catch them early and extol the virtues of cheating in exams, and ways of avoiding getting caught. In any case, those kids are probably taught by chaps who use falsified academic certificates.

As they progress to higher levels of learning, students should be encouraged to consider extending sexual favours to their teachers for good grades. We could eat our cake and still have it!