Nairobi, Kenya- The stage was set, the audience ready, and the buzz around Echoes of War was louder than ever.
But when the curtain was meant to rise at Kirobon Girls High School during the 2025 Kenya National Drama Festival, the performers from Butere Girls took the stage—only to announce they wouldn’t be performing. Now, Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba is clearing the air.
Contrary to swirling accusations on social media and in political circles, the Education CS insists the government did not block Butere Girls High School from performing the now-infamous play.
In a statement issued Thursday evening, CS Ogamba said the students were scheduled to perform Echoes of War at 8 a.m. but voluntarily pulled out over the absence of their chosen director—former UDA Secretary General and ex-Senator Cleophas Malala.
“The government did not stop Butere Girls from performing,” Ogamba told the press. “One of the students, after the National Anthem, announced they would not perform without Mr. Malala.”
This, according to Ogamba, was a clear violation of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival rules, which strictly prohibit non-teachers from directing student productions.
Drama Behind the Drama: The Altered Script That Sparked It All
So what exactly made Echoes of War such a lightning rod? Initially passed by adjudicators at the county level, the play—which tackles Gen Z’s resistance against perceived state oppression—was reportedly revised before reaching regionals. Ogamba says that’s where things took a turn.
“Adjudicators at the sub-county level had already recommended changes to remove offensive content,” said the CS. “But at the regional level, the script was altered again to reintroduce even more provocative themes.”
This breach led the school’s Board of Management to pull the play, citing Festival Regulation 19.2, which disqualifies heavily modified scripts that have not been adjudicated at lower levels.
The play was not submitted to the Executive Secretary at the March 28 meeting, meaning it was never officially listed for national performance.
Butere Girls finally SpeakThey refused to perform, allegedly claiming they had been harassed by the police and insisting they would not take the stage without their director, Mr. Cleophas
Court Orders, Campus Clashes, and Clear Lines
Despite being initially dropped, Echoes of War was thrust back into the spotlight when two separate court orders—in Kisii and Kakamega—directed that the play be performed at the national level.
The Ministry complied, and the students were recalled from their holiday break to Nakuru for the scheduled performance.
However, another problem surfaced: Cleophas Malala was barred from entering the school grounds on April 9. Ogamba emphasized this wasn’t a political move but a legal one.
“Mr. Malala is not a registered teacher. He should not have been directing the play,” said Ogamba. “Principals must adhere to the law and avoid inviting outsiders to manage students in co-curricular programs.”
The CS also expressed concern over what he called the politicization of school activities, warning that learners should not be used as pawns in adult conflicts.
As the debate over artistic expression, censorship, and educational regulations rages on, one thing is clear—Echoes of War may have missed its stage moment, but its echoes will be felt for some time.
“The Ministry is fully committed to nurturing talent across all co-curricular fields,” Ogamba reiterated. “But this must be done within the framework of professional and regulatory boundaries.”
For now, the script may be shelved, but the conversation is just beginning.
