Why we must jealously guard artistic freedoms

Butere girls high school students performing a play at Kakamega high school on March 25, 2023. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Kenyans across the political divide have condemned the Ruto Administration for tear-gassing students from Butere High School and scuttling their submission to the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival 2025. Many critics were outraged by the blatant violation of freedom of speech and the primitive use of brute force against schoolgirls. In a country with a robust bill of rights, many could not understand how any self-respecting administration could blatantly violate the rights of children, frustrate their artistic aspirations, and use tear gas on them to boot.