The High Court has given Butere Girls High School the go ahead to perform a play dubbed, 'Echoes of War' that had sparked Controversy.
The play had been removed from the Western Regional winners’ gala, leaving participants and stakeholders questioning the decision.
The drama club had also been directed to send its members home by Monday last week, effectively halting preparations for the National Drama Festival in Nakuru this week.
Penned by former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malalah, Echoes of War, explores contemporary issues such as technology, governance, and social justice—topics particularly relevant to Generation Z.
Set in the fictional Royal Velvet Emirates, the play imagines a nation recovering from a civil war, where young citizens are at the forefront of rebuilding efforts, with the characters fighting for better healthcare, education, and justice systems while tackling the implications of modern technology.
The story’s protagonist, Mustafa, a fourth-year IT student, invents Telemedicine, a groundbreaking software that connects patients to doctors worldwide.
His innovation catches the attention of the sultan, but his past social media posts—controversial ones linked to the war—soon come to light, putting him under scrutiny.
The play also introduces Anifa Imana, an artificial intelligence (AI) entity symbolizing both the promise and peril of technology, particularly in unregulated spaces.
The play critiques the role of digital spaces in governance and the power of youth in shaping societal change.
The Echoes of War dramatic incident, draws striking parallels to the 2013 ban of Shackles of Doom, another play penned by the former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malalah.
In that case, Ministry of Education officials barred the play from being staged at the national level.
However, a successful High Court petition by activist and current Busia senator Okiya Omtatah led to a ruling that overturned the ban.
Justice David Majanja of the High Court ordered the play to be staged at the nationals in Mombasa, citing freedom of expression under the Constitution.
Meanwhile, Basic Education Principal Secretary Professor Julius Bitok speaking in Nakuru today during the official opening of Term One Nationals Drama and Film Festival Competitions said the Echoes of war play will go on.
The PS admitted that there were some issues around the play but was quick to state that they have been resolved and the play will go on.
“I don’t want us to discuss more about the issues around the play for they have been resolved and I can assure the public that the play will go on,” he stated.
The School’s Principal, Jennipher Omondi, had suspended its entire cast and crew comprising 50 students, reportedly after receiving a directive from State House.
