Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has condemned the move by the police to lob teargas canisters near the Butere Girls' school bus during the National Drama festivals in Nakuru County.
In a statement on Thursday April 10 Kalonzo termed the incident as a national shame and hailed the Butere Girls students for declining to perform their play.
“What a national shame! How does this regime justify lobbing teargas at young girls from Butere Girls who declined to stage their play "Echoes of War" at the National Drama Festival? Their bravery serves as a national wake-up call,” said Kalonzo.
He added, “When voices of truth are silenced and art is censored, democracy suffers. I stand with Butere Girls and all students who joined the walkout in solidarity.”
The former vice president went on to question why the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Interior and State House were silent over issue which has attracted outrage from Kenyans.
Read More
Kalonzo further condemned the arrest of former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala art is not a crime in Kenya.
“Arresting their scriptwriter Cleophas 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 of “No Butere, No Drama… #RutoMustGo!" are the voices of a generation fed up with repression, abductions and killings,” Kalonzo added.
This comes after Butere students were caught in a crowd that was teargassed by the police at Melvin Jones Lions Academy in Nakuru.
The students were forced to run into their school bus as the teargas smoke covered the area.
Butere Girls were expected to perform their controversial play "Echoes of War" but declined and demanded the presence of Malala.
The Butere students also cited harassment from the police and a poorly prepared stage.
