KHRC sues State over ban on Butere Girls play 'Echoes of War'

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has filed a petition in court seeking to compel the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival Committee to allow students from Butere Girls’ High School to stage their play, ‘Echoes of War.’

Alternatively, KHRC is seeking conservatory orders to suspend the ongoing drama festival until the matter is resolved.

In its petition, KHRC also requests that the performance be staged using the original script, incorporating the performers' chosen props and décor, with support from their director and assistants, and in the presence of an audience.

KHRC argues that proceeding with the festival without including the Butere Girls’ performance would violate the students’ rights to freedom of thought, conscience, information, expression, and opinion.

"The aforementioned absurd and malicious treatment has only been discriminatorily meted out against the Butere Girls, as all other schools have performed or are due to perform with their chosen props and décor and before an audience," read the court papers.

The commission further contends that the actions of the respondents constitute a violation of their constitutional duty to promote, protect, respect, and fulfill the rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.