Echoes of War Takes Another Turn as Court Exposes CS Ogamba

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba finds himself at the center of a growing controversy following a court ruling that contradicts his claims regarding the banning of the Butere Girls' drama play Echoes of War from national performance.

The High Court in Kisii has released documents that dispute the CS's assertions that the school's script was altered to include inappropriate political content, sparking renewed public debate on artistic censorship and youth expression.

CS Ogamba had maintained that the decision to stop the play was based on modifications to the script, which, he argued, introduced political undertones unsuitable for a school competition.

His position was that the content performed at earlier stages of the competition differed significantly from what was presented during the final evaluations.

However, the court found no evidence of such alterations. In fact, Judge Wilfrida Okwany ruled that the script remained consistent with what had been performed at the sub-county level.

According to the judgment, the disqualification of Butere Girls was based on verbal instructions reportedly issued by unnamed higher authorities and not on any verifiable script changes or rule violations.

The play in question, written by former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, centers on issues of governance and the empowerment of young people.

It had received widespread acclaim for its creativity, relevance, and strong acting by the students.

Despite this, the school administration, allegedly acting under pressure, blocked students from rehearsals and performances during the final stages of the competition.

Public outrage escalated after the event venue witnessed a heavy police deployment. The heightened security led to chaotic scenes, including the use of tear gas which resulted in injuries to journalists and bystanders.

This incident drew criticism from civil rights activists and the wider public, with many accusing the government of using state machinery to stifle artistic freedom and silence youth voices.