Gov't did not block Butere Girls from performing ‘Echoes of War’ play: CS Ogamba clears air

Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba has refuted claims that the government prevented Butere Girls from performing the ‘Echoes of War’ play at Kirobon Girls High School in Nakuru, where the National Drama Festival is taking place.

This as the ‘Echoes of War’ play has elicited debate over its theme that centers on Gen Z's rising against oppression from the government. 

In a statement on Thursday evening, the CS explained that the students were provided the opportunity to perform the play but declined to do so of their own volition. 

He added that the school's management violated the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) regulations by inviting former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala, a non-teacher, to direct the play.

"The government did not stop Butere Girls from performing. Are you aware that the students were allowed to perform at 8am? When they came to the stage after the National Anthem, one of them said they are not willing to perform without their director, Mr Malala," he stated.

"The ministry wishes to inform principals who invite non-teachers to their schools to train learners in co-curricula activities that they are in contravention of the TSC regulations as well as the rules and regulations for the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival."

He added: "We cannot allow people to weaponise school children against authority. Let political wars be fought by politicians outside learning environments."

In explaining the genesis of the play's controversy, CS Ogamba said that adjudicators at the sub-county level advised the school to omit some of the offensive messages from the script.

At the county level, the script did not have any negative sentiments and was allowed to proceed to the regional level. However, the Education CS noted that the script was significantly altered to include “more offensive themes.”

The school's board of management sought to withdraw the play from the competition, citing that the law allows minimal changes to the script.

"The school, therefore, felt that the script had been significantly altered and could not be presented at the National level. It was, therefore, withdrawn and not presented to the Executive Secretary by the Regional Secretary during the Regional Secretaries meeting held at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development on March 28, 2025," he remarked. 

"As per procedure, when a script is not presented to the Executive Secretary, it is not scheduled to perform at the national level."

The students were hence instructed to go home for the April holidays but were later recalled after a court order directed that the play be presented at the national level. 

He, however, explained that security agents blocked Malala from accessing the school premises on Wednesday, April 9, for he was neither a teacher nor a director in the school. 

"From the foregoing, it is clear that Mr Malala shouldn’t have been allowed to direct the play, a role that should have been left to the teachers as per rules and regulations," said CS Ogamba.

"The Ministry of Education is fully committed to promoting talents among our learners through all forms of co-curricula activities available in our school system. However, school principals are advised to stick to the rules and regulations governing co-curricula activities."