NAIROBI, Kenya – Chief Justice Martha Koome has sharply condemned the events that transpired during the Kenya National Drama Festival in Nakuru, involving Butere Girls High School students.
Koome expressed her deep concern over the failure to comply with a clear court order directing the participation of the students in the festival describing the incident as a serious violation of the rule of law,
In a statement released on Thursday, Koome noted that the High Court had issued an explicit order for the students to perform their play titled Echoes of War during the festival.
The order, issued under the case Anifa Mango v Principal, Butere Girls High School & 3 Others (Petition No. E006 of 2025), instructed the school and festival organizers to facilitate the students’ participation.
However, the court order was defied, leading to the disruption of the students’ involvement in the event.
“It is particularly disturbing that these events occurred against the backdrop of clear and binding court orders issued by the High Court sitting in Kisii,” said Koome.
She emphasized that non-compliance with judicial orders not only challenges the authority of the courts but also undermines the very foundation of Kenya’s constitutional democracy.
Koome voiced particular alarm over reports of force and violence being used against the students during the incident.
“These actions raise serious constitutional questions about respect for the dignity, rights, and welfare of children,” she stated.
In her statement, the Chief Justice urged all state organs, officers, and public officials to respect and enforce court orders.
“Respect for court orders is not optional. It is a constitutional imperative that safeguards our collective commitment to the rule of law,” Koome asserted.
The events, which deviated from the rule of law, have prompted Koome to call for a renewed commitment to protecting the rights of children and upholding the legal process in all spheres of public and private life.
She concluded by emphasizing that adherence to court rulings is critical to the maintenance of the nation’s legal and democratic structures, warning that defiance of such orders poses a grave threat to the rule of law.
