Gov’t defends stand on Butere Girls' play, warns against politicization of schools

The government now says that it is not worried by criticism from the opposition - whether voiced directly or conveyed through theatrical productions.

In what appears to be an effort to contain uproar from barring students of Butere Girls High Schools from staging the play 'Echoes of War', the government has defended the move, stating their intent was to shield students from potential political indoctrination.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, speaking in Tana River County on Friday, defended the decision to halt the play authored by former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala, framing it as a move to shield students from what he described as “corrupting political ideologies.”

“I saw people saying the government is threatened…threatened by what? We have faced so many other political issues. We have faced more serious security issues as a country to be threatened by a play by young people,” he said.

“The thing is, we’re insisting, let the politicians give way and allow our children to criticize us…we have no problem.”

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo: “Let our children be children and not to allow other people to poison our children...politicians should not be allowed to invade spaces of our children.”

The situation has drawn comparisons to the 2013 controversy surrounding ‘Shackles of Doom,’ a similarly provocative play.

Many have pointed out Murkomen's double standards, once defending a politically charged production, now criticizing one. But Murkomen insists ‘Echoes of War’ has gained popularity for the wrong reasons, despite both plays by Malala tackling parallel themes of governance and social justice.

“It was not an issue. What I said then was that this script (‘Shackles of Doom’) has received publicity, it can be discussed…this one (‘Echoes of War’) has also received publicity but in the wrong way, by just broadcasting politics. But if it was just publicity about the challeneges we have in our country, there would be no issue,” stated Murkomen.

At the same time, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos maintained that there were sufficient grounds for restricting Malala’s access to Butere Girls High School, citing concerns over his role in coaching the students

“You can get a script from anybody, but you cannot be the one directing or training the students for that particular play. That is the disconnect; it was not that Malala had done the play, it was that he wanted to be the one directing, which is against regulations,” said CS Migos.

The CS also denied that the government had any direct involvement in stopping the performance of the play.

“The court order was clear that the students were supposed to go back to the original play, not the one that had been altered along the way. That is the one that they were ready to present yesterday, but then they were not able to present out of their own volition, and so there was nothing the government could have done at that point,” he added.

This as opposition leaders also voiced disapproval of Thursday’s events.

“Every person has the right of freedom of expression; a right that includes the guarantee right for Butere Girls to perform their play without fear or intimidation. Their artistic expression is protected under the law,” said Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

For now, the students of Butere Girls will have to wait until next year's drama festivals for another chance to grace the stage.