The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Amnesty International have condemned what they have termed as a brutal attack on students and journalists at the National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru.
In a statement, ODM faulted the authorities, insisting that the young girls should have been allowed to stage their play like the others.
The party said that freedom of expression allows Kenyans to express themselves freely.
“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.
“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,” Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said.
He said that serious questions arise when a government is scared of children's art, a mere expression of talent in a high school 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".”
Lobby group Amnesty International said the events of Thursday morning were not only a shameful abuse of police authority but a direct assault on constitutional freedoms.
The lobby said that by targeting a school play performed by children, the state is criminalizing creativity and turning cultural spaces into zones of fear and censorship, calling for an immediate stop to any form of intimidation.
Amnesty further called for the unconditional release of the playwright, Cleophas Malala, who is currently held at the Eldama Ravine police station.
“This brazen attack undermines children’s right to participate in society through art—a right enshrined in both Kenyan law and international human rights standards.
“We demand an immediate end to the harassment, intimidation, and censorship directed at the students, teachers, and creatives behind the play, and call for the unconditional release of thespian Cleophas Malala, who has been arbitrarily detained,” Amnesty International Kenya Section Director Irungu Houghton said.
He urged the state to reverse any attempts to prohibit such performances now or in the future.
“Silence is not safety—children must be free to speak, perform, and imagine a different world without the threat of state violence.”
The lobby also urged the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to initiate prompt and transparent investigations into the conduct of all police officers and their commanding officers involved in these incidents to hold them accountable for violating the policing code of conduct and the Constitution.
The girls got on stage on Thursday morning, sang the national anthem and then walked out, demanding the director of the play, who is Malala.
When given a chance to stage the play, it is alleged they were also denied a string of other basic infrastructure meant to enhance their performance, like other schools, including microphones, props and other equipment.
Security officers were forced to lob tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered in protest of the treatment accorded to the Butere Girls High School drama team.
Butere Girls students were caught in the crowd and were forced to rush back to their bus, and some fell in the process.
The school had been banned from staging their Gen Z-themed play because it critiques the government.
The court, however, lifted the ban on April 3 when Justice Wilfrida Okwany suspended any letter banning or barring the school from participating in the festival.
The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) also called out the police for the use of excessive force on journalists at the Drama festival.
The association said this, coupled with teargassing students of Butere Girls, is a violation of fundamental rights and endangers lives.
AMWIK called for an immediate probe and action taken against the responsible officers.
“AMWIK denounces the excessive use of force by law enforcement, which undermines press freedom and jeopardizes public safety. Journalists have a right to report freely without intimidation or violence, while children must be protected from harm in all circumstances.
“We demand immediate investigations into the incident and
call for accountability for those responsible for these reprehensible actions.
AMWIK urges security agencies to uphold their mandate to protect citizens,
including journalists and children, rather than resorting to harmful and
oppressive measures.”
