Editor's Review

On its part, the government has denied frustrating the efforts of the students to stage the play that was critical of the Ruto administration.


ODM has called out President William Ruto's government following the drama that has emerged regarding the Butere Girls play.

In a strongly worded statement that was released on Thursday, April 10, by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the government was accused of lacking focus.

According to the party SG, the current administration had shot itself on the foot given the frustrations that the students had faced during the national drama festival.

"The country has watched with disbelief, the unfolding drama at the National Drama festival in Nakuru where the government has seemingly run scared of a play by Butere Girls, titled "Echoes of War".

"Of all the evidence we already have of the lack of focus of this regime, it has shot itself in the foot by harassing and attempting to dim the voices of young girls in school uniform," ODM expressed.

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File image of Cleophas Malala in a heated confrontation with a DCI officer.

Further, the party wondered why the state would go to the great lengths of teargassing the students after they declined to perform the play at the festival.

"We wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible the mistreatment of Butere Girls High School, journalists and other festival goers and join other Kenyans in demanding that the authorities allow the young artists to stage their play like all else," read the statement in part.

"We reiterate that the freedom of expression guaranteed by our constitution allows people of all ages to express themselves freely even if we do not particularly like what they have to say."

On its part, the government has denied frustrating the efforts of the students to stage the play that was critical of the Ruto administration.

According to Government Spokesperson Issac Mwaura, political actors were taking advantage of the situation. This follows the incident that involved former UDA SG Cleophas Malala.

"On Butere Girls' Echoes of War, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba will issue a comprehensive statement shortly. The Government remains committed to ensuring freedom of expression. Political actors shouldn't use children to speak on their behalf in order to settle scores," read the statement in part.