NAIROBI, Kenya — The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) has condemned the actions of police officers who allegedly intimidated and violated the rights of students from Butere Girls High School during their scheduled performance at the Kenya National Drama Festival in Nakuru County.
In a press statement issued on April 10, 2025, FIDA-Kenya denounced the police interference, describing it as unlawful and harmful to the students’ well-being.
The incident, which occurred on the evening of April 9 and the morning of April 10, saw students from Butere Girls High School being obstructed from performing their play, “Echoes of War,” despite a court order affirming their right to participate in the festival.
Reports from media outlets confirmed that on the day of the performance, the students faced numerous obstacles.
They were prevented from rehearsing the play the previous day, and when they arrived for their performance, they found no public address system, no audience, and no costumes—basic necessities for the performance.
When the students refused to proceed under these inadequate conditions and chose to leave the venue peacefully, police officers reportedly responded with violence.
Teargas was fired at the students while they were being interviewed by journalists, causing chaos and panic among the girls.
Several students were separated from their teachers and the school bus in the ensuing confusion.
FIDA-Kenya highlighted that such actions violate several constitutional provisions safeguarding the rights of children, including Article 28 (the right to human dignity), Article 33(1)(b) (the right to freedom of expression), Article 36 (the right to access information), Article 37 (the right to peaceful assembly), and Article 53 (the right of children to protection from violence and abuse).
Statement: We condemn the disturbing & unlawful events that unfolded on the evening of 09/04/2025 & the morning of 10/04/2025, targeting students of Butere Girls High School during their scheduled performance of the play “Echoes of War” at the National Drama Festivals in Nakuru.
The organization has called for a thorough investigation by the National Police Service (NPS) and the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) into the incident.
They have urged that the police officers responsible for this misconduct be held accountable, and for IPOA to publish the findings of their investigation, given that the incident involved children.
FIDA-Kenya has also called on the Ministry of Education to ensure that Butere Girls High School is allowed to perform the play in accordance with the court’s orders, stressing that such violations should not recur in future events.
Additionally, FIDA-Kenya urged the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to assure the public that children’s rights are safeguarded and that the state will not tolerate violations of these rights.
The Chairperson of FIDA-Kenya, Christine Kungu, expressed solidarity with the students of Butere Girls, praising their courage and resilience in the face of adversity.
“The unlawful treatment of these students underscores the need for stronger protections for the rights and dignity of women and girls in Kenya,” Kungu stated. “We remain committed to ensuring that no child in Kenya ever has to endure such unlawful and traumatic experiences again.”
