Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has found himself in a contradictory position over school drama censorship, with his recent statements on the Butere Girls’ High School play controversy starkly contrasting his views from more than a decade ago.
In 2013, when Shackles of Doom, a play directed by former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala for Butere Girls, was banned from the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival, Murkomen, then a newly elected senator for Elgeyo-Marakwet, was a vocal critic of the censorship.
“I wish the much-publicised ‘Shackles of Doom’ was staged here at State House Mombasa. What was wrong with the Butere Girls’ Shackles of Doom? They have enjoyed the best advertisement and they should reap from it,” Murkomen stated on his X account on two separate occasions in 2013.
Fast forward to 2025, and Murkomen’s stance appears to have dramatically shifted following another controversy involving Butere Girls and a play titled Echoes of War, also directed by Malala.
The production has sparked national debate after students were denied a proper stage setup and harassed by police officers ahead of their scheduled performance during the ongoing Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Music Festival in Nakuru.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, April 10, 2025, Murkomen defended the government’s actions, framing the issue as one of protecting children from political exploitation.
“We are mandated to safeguard the freedom of expression for all Kenyans, and we would not want insecurity to be pushed into the wellbeing of our children,” he stated.
“We also should allow our children to be educated in all forms, but we have the responsibility as government and parents to ensure that they are not at the centre of politics,” he added.
In an apparent jab at Malala, who has recently fallen off with the government following his removal as UDA Secretary General, Murkomen added: “It has come to a point that a politician is now the headteacher directing students on drama and using them to politically get back at the government.”
The CS urged politicians to steer clear of influencing educational content suggesting that teachers are better equipped to determine appropriate content for students and know the right language while criticising the government.
“I want to urge us politicians to leave schools for teachers. Teachers know the boundaries when engaging the learners. They know the right language while criticising the government, and they are the only ones to direct our children on morals,” he stated.
Butere Girls’ standoff
On April 10, 2025, the students of Butere Girls walked off the stage at Melvin Jones International School in Nakuru during the national drama festivals, explaining that their decision was not impulsive but the result of ongoing mistreatment.
Frustrated and emotional, they accused organisers of denying them essential support—such as sound systems, décor, and proper stage setup—and recounted being harassed by police.
“We were harassed by the police. We went to the stage with nothing — no sound, no decor, nothing. So we sang the National Anthem and left,” one student said.
As tensions escalated, the students began chanting and demanding the whereabouts of their director.
“We want our director. We are not performing without our director. Where is Mr. Cleophas? We want him. We are not going back to Butere,” they shouted.
The situation turned chaotic as police officers lobbed teargas canisters at the students as they exited the venue, further fuelling public outrage and raising questions about the government’s handling of the matter.