NAIROBI, Kenya— Amnesty International Kenya has condemned the violent actions of police during the disruption of Echoes of War, a play performed by students from Butere Girls High School at the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru.
The human rights organization described the incident, which occurred on April 9 and 10, 2025, as a “direct assault on constitutional freedoms” and a severe violation of the rights of children to freely express themselves through art.
In a statement released on Thursday, Amnesty International Kenya called the police’s actions—ranging from the assault of journalists covering the event to the use of tear gas on a crowd—“unlawful and unconstitutional.”
The organization pointed out that these actions were part of a troubling pattern of state-sponsored repression aimed at curbing free expression, press freedom, and the right of citizens to associate peacefully.
“What unfolded was not just a shameful abuse of police authority, but a direct assault on constitutional freedoms,” read the statement. “By targeting a school play performed by children, the state is criminalizing creativity and turning cultural spaces into zones of fear and censorship.”
The play, Echoes of War, written by former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, was intended to explore important social issues through the lens of young performers.
However, the students found themselves caught in an intense confrontation with authorities, as police attempted to stop their performance from going ahead.
Amnesty’s statement emphasized that the government’s actions violated both Kenyan law and international human rights standards, particularly the right of children to engage in cultural and artistic expression.
“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,” the statement continued.
The organization also demanded the immediate release of Cleophas Malala, who had been arbitrarily detained in connection with the play, and called for investigations into the conduct of the police officers involved.
“We urge 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,” the Organization remarked.
Amnesty International Kenya further emphasized that the Children Act 2022 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantee every child’s right to free expression, including through artistic performance.
The organization called on the government to uphold these rights, warning against future attempts to censor or suppress artistic freedom.
“We call on the state to reverse any attempts to prohibit such performances now or in the future,” read the statement. “Silence is not safety—children must be free to speak, perform, and imagine a different world without the threat of state violence.”
We condemn the violent crackdown on Butere Girls’ play Echoes of War. Teargassing children. Beating journalists. Arresting artists. This is repression of freedom of expression. amnestykenya.org/police-crackdo…#ButereGirls #NationalDramaFestivals #EchoesOfWar @NationBreaking @KTNNewsKE
