ODM Condemns Hostile Government Response to Echoes of War Performance at Drama Festival.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has strongly criticized the government’s actions against the cast of the play Echoes of War from Butere Girls High School, along with other participants at the ongoing National Drama Festival in Nakuru.
In a statement to the media, ODM Secretary-General, Edwin Sifuna, condemned the harassment faced by the students, calling it a serious threat to freedom of expression as enshrined in Kenyan law.
Sifuna expressed disbelief at the unfolding events in Nakuru, where the government appeared to be fearful of the Echoes of War performance by Butere Girls.
The statement pointed out that, amid the government’s ongoing failures, it had further compromised itself by targeting students and attempting to silence young voices. The party emphasized that all students, including those from Butere Girls, should be allowed to perform their play like any other participants.
ODM stressed that the constitution guarantees freedom of expression for everyone, regardless of age or the content of their message. The party questioned the actions of a government that, instead of encouraging artistic freedom, resorted to actions that undermined the fundamental rights of students.
The incident was compared to the historical events in South Africa during the apartheid era, particularly the 1976 protests by schoolchildren in the film Sarafina, which highlighted the importance of young voices in political and social discourse. ODM reminded the public that the innocence of schoolchildren makes their expression particularly significant in the national conversation.
Read Also: Ministry to Review Drama Festival Guidelines Following Butere Girls Incident
Harassment and Excessive Force
The situation escalated when police officers used tear gas against students at Kirobon Girls High School on Wednesday night. Former Kakamega Senator, Cleophas Malala, who is also the writer of the Echoes of War play, urged the authorities to stop using excessive force on the students, asserting that they were innocent and patriotic.
The tension heightened on Thursday when journalists and the public were prevented from accessing Kirobon Girls during the National Drama Festival. As a result, the students chose not to perform their play. Furthermore, Malala reported that 15 students were missing from the cast, which originally consisted of 38 girls.
ODM Condemns Hostile Government Response to Echoes of War Performance at Drama Festival.
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