A cloud of controversy engulfed the National Drama Festivals on Thursday after Butere Girls High School was denied the opportunity to perform their much-anticipated play Echoes of War.
Their arrival to the venue was met with cheers from students and locals who had gathered to psyche them up ahead of their performance.
The students, who had taken to the stage at 8:00 a.m., were left in tears after being denied access to a public address system and performing to an empty hall.
In a show of quiet defiance, the students sang the National Anthem before exiting the stage in silence, having not trained for three weeks nor seen their play directors.
Their performance had been eagerly awaited following a High Court ruling that reinstated Echoes of War into the national lineup after its controversial disqualification at the Western Region level.
The play, which explores themes of governance and the Gen Z-led protests of 2024, has faced mounting pressure, with critics viewing its censorship as politically motivated.
Its scriptwriter, former Senator Cleophas Malala, was barred from accessing the venue at Kirobon Girls High School in Nakuru, with reports of police surrounding his vehicle and threatening arrest.
Journalists and the public were also denied entry, and media coverage was abruptly halted. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) crew and other partners were reportedly ordered to stop all recordings and pack up their equipment.
As of Thursday night, tensions remained high, with police using teargas to disperse reporters stationed outside the venue.
