Drama students from Butere Girls High School were teargassed on Thursday morning April 10, after leaving Kirobon Girls High School in Nakuru, where the National Drama Festivals is taking place. This is after they were ordered to perform their play "Echoes of war" in the ongoing drama festivals in Nakuru without public address system and in an empty hall.
To express their disappointment and unfair treatment, the students sang the national anthem and staged a walk out demanding for their director.
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| Empty seats at the ongoing National Drama Festivals Photo| Hassan Ali: Facebook |
This has happened due to the shouting nature of the play as it aims at exposing the injustices going on in the current regime. Since the purpose of art is to act as the light of the society, the script writer of this play former senator Cleophas Malala aimed at showing the reality happening in our country and what is likely to happen in the near future.
This brings shame to the nation and the bravery of the students serves as a national wake-up call. When voices of truth are silenced and art is censored, democracy suffers.
Kenya must remain a country where even the echoes of war are heard — and heeded. The silence from State House, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Interior is absolutely telling.
Arresting their scripwriter, Malala, whose only crime was to exercise his rights guaranteed under Article 33 of our Constitution, only confirms the fear our leaders have of truth. Art is not a crime.
The chants, “No Butere, No Drama" and "RutoMustGo!" are the voices of a generation fed up with repression, abductions and killings.
Teargasing young souls does not make any sense, therefore, Butere Girls must be given an opportunity showcase their talent and creativity irregardless of the script writer as art acts as the light of the society. Justice must be given to Butere girls and Cleophas Malala.
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