Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has accused government agencies of encroaching on the artistic and creative space following the saga surrounding Butere Girls’ play Echoes of War.
Speaking to K24 TV on Friday, April 11, 2025, Orwoba emphasised the importance of creative freedom in artistic expression, noting that the creative space must be protected from unwarranted interference.
“Freedom of expression comes with responsibility, and I do not think that is a question that should have even been debated in relevance to what is happening in Butere Girls,” Orwoba said.
“For me, what was happening with that Butere Girls play was simply an invasion of the creative space by the government agencies.”
Orwoba further explained that freedom of expression in the creative space differs from how it is typically used in everyday social conversations.
“In the creative space, freedom of expression applies differently by use of comic effects and figures of speech; you can not pick a freedom of speech in a context of a creative space,” she added.
She also condemned the incident, framed it as mere local politics, and told her party leader that certain individuals were undermining him.
“I condemn what happened, and I want to tell my party leader that there are some people messing with him. This whole thing is local politics,” she added.
Orwoba on Malala’s involvement
Orwoba defended the involvement of non-teaching professionals in drama festivals, highlighting Cleophas Malalah’s long-standing contribution to the creative space.
Drama festivals provide a valuable platform for our talented young students to explore and showcase their creativity. It has become customary for non-teaching creative professionals to contribute to the preparation for these competitions.
“Cleo Malala, with his longstanding passion for playwriting and directing, has actively engaged in these efforts throughout his political career and prior to that,” Orwoba said.
She criticised calls to restrict training roles to teachers, calling them limiting.
“I have heard voices that only teachers should train participants in plays, poetry, and other creative activities. I believe this perspective is limiting, especially in a time when our youth are in that space that should be inclusive
Orwoba, who disclosed that she is an experienced producer, expressed disappointment over the growing intolerance and emphasised that any issues should be resolved within the festival’s structures, not through law enforcement.
“As a producer with extensive experience in the creative sector, I find it disheartening to witness a regression in our approach to moderation and collaboration. The Drama Festival in Kenya has established in-house regulations; any concerns should be addressed internally rather than involving law enforcement,” she stated.