Graft, censorship take centre stage at drama festival

Highway Secondary from Nairobi, performing 'Jangoma', a cultural dance at the 63th Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals in Nakuru on April 10, 2025. The play depicted corruption, intimidation and exploitation similar to that of Butere Girls which was banned. [Daniel Chege, Standard.] Corruption, poor leadership and the exploitation of Kenyans continued to dominate the 63rd edition of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals held in Nakuru City. Vitengeni Baptist School from Kilifi County presented 'Samawati', a play depicting how government corruption and exploitation have infiltrated schools. The play centers on a bright student, Sawa, who invents a method for conserving corals to increase fish in the lake. However, corruption by politician Mwapinda and his influence leads his son Wati to steal Sawa's project and attack him with the help of fellow students. The play shows how Wati entices and bribes his fellow students with mandazis and tea to win their support. In the play, Mwapinda is seen bribing fishermen to back his personal projects, which ultimately harm the fish population. Highway Secondary from Nairobi presented a cultural dance, Jangoma, which criticized the government for seeking solutions outside Kenya to address the country's problems. The dance portrayed how Kenyans had become victims of exploitation, not only by close confidants but also by unscrupulous entrepreneurs. "What we need to realize is that our breakthrough lies right within us," read the synopsis of the performance. As the festivals continued, the topic of discussion both in and out of the hall was Butere Girls, with many in the audience eager to see the students perform. Johnson Wakeni, who closed his shop to attend, expressed curiosity about what made the play so unique. "Even without reading the script, I can categorically state that the play criticized the government because no one has been allowed to see it," Wakeni said. Leaders, including Gideon Moi, Kanu's national chairman, condemned the state's attempt to silence Butere Girls and Cleophas Malala over 'Echoes of War' play. "Last night, Kenya witnessed yet another disturbing display of state repression as security agencies tried to block the staging of 'Echoes of War'," he said. Gideon described the play as an artistic expression, a bold and thoughtful satire on the collapse of social services, entrenched patronage politics, and broken promises, reflecting the frustrations of the country's youth. He pointed out that the play had been banned from advancing to the national levels and that it was only through judicial intervention that it was allowed to be performed. "This act of censorship evokes the 2013 ban of 'Shackles of Doom', also staged by the same institution and scripted by Malala," Gideon stated. He said there has been a growing pattern of silencing dissent through extrajudicial means, mentioning the unleashed hooliganism at a place of worship in Kasarani, where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was in attendance. He condemned the deployment of security agencies to suppress a high school play while turning a blind eye to lawlessness by armed gangs occupying public spaces. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) insisted that voices of school children matter, likening Butere Girls to the movie 'Sarafina'. "The government has shot itself in the foot by harassing and attempting to dim the voices of young girls in school uniform," said ODM in a statement. The police action was also condemned by Amnesty International, saying it violated the children's rights and suppressed the freedom of expression and association

Graft, censorship take centre stage at drama festival

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Graft, censorship take centre stage at drama festival

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