A lawyer attached to Butere Girls’ High School Mr. Ken Echesa, has spoken out following the dramatic events that unfolded in Nakuru during the National Drama Festivals.
Speaking to Citizen TV, Echesa gave a detailed account of what happened on Thursday morning after the students refused to perform in protest to the arrest of the playwright, former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.
The girls are said to have sang the National Anthem and walked off the stage in protest, choosing not to participate in the drama performance entitled “Echoes of War.”
“As they exited the venue and made their way to the school bus they were accosted by close to fifty uniformed and heavily armed police officers who harassed and violently intimidated them,” said Echesa.
Crowds who had gathered to watch the play are then said to have confronted the police ensuing into a fierce melee that saw several teargas cannisters being lobbed into the air. The students scampered into the safety of the bus.
Shortly afterwards Cleophas Malala resurfaced and recounted that after being arrested and ignominably bundled into the boot of a police van Wednesday night the police drove round and round in circles before dumping him at Eldama Ravine Police Station where he was released without charges Thursday morning.
Following the arrest of Malala Wednesday night the police cordoned off the Hall at Kirobon Girls’ High School in Nakuru where the controversial play was to be staged Thursday morning. The police barred journalists from taking photos or accessing the cast of Echoes of War.
Echoes of War is set to reminisce the Kenyan anti-Finance Bill protests of 2024 where the youth robustly stood up to the police in defense of their rights.
Speaking about the side-drama that ensued at the National Drama Festivals Cabinet Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said it was unfortunate that politicians were using innocent students to settle political scores.
Cleophas Malala who ardently campaigned for President Dr. William Samoei Ruto in 2022 and was gifted the post of Secretary General in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party fell out with his boss and has since been languishing in the political cold.
Malala was thrust into national limelight in 2013 after a similar political play he wrote for Butere Girls’ High School won national acclaim.
Speaking during his release at the Eldama Ravine Police Station, Malala shocked the nation when he revealed that 15 students from Butere Girls’ High School were missing, possibly abducted by police.
“Our cast comprises 38 girls. We have received information that 15 girls are missing. We want to know where our girls are. Police should produce the girls,” he told reporters on his release.
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