NAIROBI – The Kenyan government fired fire on Thursday for suppressing creativity at the 2025 National Drama Festival in Nakuru after adjusting to suppress the controversial plays by Boutire Girls High School.
What began as a disruption in the play’s performance was soon escalated to public protest as President William Root’s administration took him to social media to condemn yet another act of oppression.
Written by former Kakamega Senator Clefas Malala, the play focuses on Generation Z’s struggle in the fight for good governance.
The controversy began when Malala was arrested Thursday night, and police were using excessive force.
Malala, a former ally of the current administration, who previously served as executive director of the UDA Party of Dominance and Uniform Democratic Union, had visited Kirobon Girls High School to oversee the Butaire Girls rehearsal ahead of the scheduled performance of the play on Thursday.
However, he was denied entry, leading to subsequent arrests.
During the confusion, police assaulted six journalists covering their arrests by targeting them with tear gas cans.
Speaking to Spice FM on Thursday while in custody at Eldama Valley Police Station, Malala said, “It’s just a play and has nothing to do with inciting or calling names. It’s a work of art.”
In further escalation of the event, organizers of the National Drama Festival on Thursday morning banned journalists and public members from accessing the venue.
Inside the hall, the girl in Butaire faced confusion, was denied the audience and had no practical public address system.
In the act of protest, students now talk of the people, demanding that they walk the stage, sing the national anthem and learn where Malala, the detained director, is.
Outside the venue, police slammed a girl in Butaire with tear gas before dragging the National Police Corps’ name into the mud.
Nakuru’s tension quickly flares up.
“It was a heroic act by a girl. We couldn’t perform without the audience, the director and the people involved,” Malala said.
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Leaders, including Karonzo Musuyoka of the Wiper Party, Eugene Wamarwa of Dapkenya and former Supreme Court Justice David Malaga, have condemned police crackdowns and state repression of artistic expression.
Karonzo blames the government’s actions as shameful, saying, “Art is not a crime… “butere, no drama… #rutomustgo!” The voice of a generation tired of oppression, abduction and murder. ”
Wamarwa criticized the state’s crackdown on the war echo, saying, “The king is truly naked, who is afraid of his children telling him he is naked!”
Malaga warned that, from the view of the students, “Don’t cultivate a generation who fears their voices…the perpetrators will one day make a reservation.”
By the time of publication, no government officials had issued a statement regarding the alleged involvement of the state in stopping tears and plays of the girls of Buterire.
This silence overshadows President Root’s administration and his commitment to freedom and rights for Kenyans. His popularity continues to decline.
