As the drama around the ‘Echoes of War’ stage play continues, Butere Girls’ students have been teargassed by police as they left the venue of the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Music Festival.
In a video shared online on Thursday, April 10, 2025, police are seen lobbing teargas in the direction of the Butere Girls’ school bus. Some students are seen covering their noses and eyes because of the impact of the teargas.
Moments after the teargas subsided, a number of police officers were seen leading the bus out of the venue.
Butere Girls found themselves in this saga after the scriptwriter of their play, former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, was arrested by the police. Although they were allowed to perform, the students sang the national anthem instead and left the main stage, citing police harassment and demanding to be told where Malala is.
Why is ‘Echoes of War’ controversial?
The play is set in a fictional nation emerging from the ashes of civil war, where a generation of young people striving to rebuild society hold their leaders accountable and use digital platforms to advance democracy and justice, playing the centre stage.
Butere Girls were initially barred from performing the play over its critical portrayal of state structures, but later a court order stopped authorities and gave the students the go-ahead to perform.
The court order was given by Justice Wilfrida Okwany on April 3, 2025.
The drama involving the Butere Girls’ play has turned into a national issue, with leaders voicing their concerns.
Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya said the police should have summoned Malala instead.
“It was unlawful for arresting and tear-gazing former senator before minors. It was prudent for police to summon him even after a court ruling on the play rather than waiting until it was too late for him to be arrested. This means we still live in a banana Republic. Learning institutions must be separated from the politics of the day,” Salasya said.