Maraga Slams Police, Authorities Over Butere Girls Drama Festival Saga
He said the play’s cancellation and the use of force against minors were not only unconstitutional but also “totally unacceptable.”
Former Chief Justice David Maraga. Photo/Tuko News.
By Robert Assad
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has issued a scathing condemnation of authorities following the controversial barring of Butere Girls High School from performing their play Echoes of War at the Kenya National Schools and Colleges Drama and Film Festival.
Speaking through a statement published Maraga criticized the actions of police and festival organizers, calling the suppression of the student performers a “flagrant violation of the Constitution.”
He said the play’s cancellation and the use of force against minors were not only unconstitutional but also “totally unacceptable.”
“I condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the actions by the police and persons in authority that sanctioned and condoned the recent acts on students of Butere Girls High School,” Maraga said. “It is not just unconscionable but also unconstitutional and educationally unacceptable.”
The students, who were scheduled to perform Echoes of War, arrived on stage around 8 a.m. Thursday, only to find that they had been denied access to the public address system.
The PA system, typically provided to all other schools during the festival, was not available to them — a move many viewed as a targeted attempt to silence their voices.
Instead of performing, the students stood on stage and sang the National Anthem before breaking down in tears and walking off. According to sources close to the school, the students had not seen their directors in three weeks and were denied proper rehearsal opportunities, further hindering their preparation.
Even more disturbing to many observers was the lack of an audience during their scheduled performance — another detail that raised suspicions of sabotage.
Echoes of War, written by Cleophas Malala, has been at the center of national attention for its bold themes addressing governance issues and referencing the Gen Z-led protests that swept Kenya in 2024.
Initially disqualified at the Western Region Drama Festivals under vague circumstances, the play was reinstated by a High Court ruling, which mandated its inclusion in the national lineup.
Despite the court order, new hurdles emerged on Wednesday when playwright Malala was blocked from accessing the festival venue at Kirobon Girls High School in Nakuru.
The unfolding controversy has triggered outrage across the country, with calls for accountability and protection of artistic and student expression. Legal and civil society groups have begun demanding investigations into the handling of the festival and the treatment of Butere Girls students.
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