Relief for Burtere Girls as Court Lifts Ban on Gen Z-Themed Play

Butere Girls High School students have been granted a lifeline to showcase their Gen Z-themed play Echoes of War at the National Drama Festivals, following a High Court ruling in their favor.

Justice Wilfrida Okwany ordered the school’s principal, Jennifer Omondi, to recall the 50 students who were sent home, allowing them to participate in the festival scheduled to take place in Nakuru from April 7 to 15.

This ruling overturns a controversial decision made by Principal Omondi, who allegedly acted on a directive from State House to bar the play from the competition. Echoes of War highlights the struggles faced by the Gen Z generation and was reportedly considered inappropriate as it could potentially embarrass First Lady Rachel Ruto, a former student of the school.

The court heard that the students, including those participating in the play, were sent home on March 30 for the April holidays, denying them critical time for rehearsals.

Justice Okwany also suspended any letters issued to the school principal that sought to bar Butere Girls from the festival.

The application challenging the ban was filed by Ms. Anifa Mango, a former student of Butere Girls. She was directed by the court to serve relevant documents to the principal, the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival Committee, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, and the Attorney-General.

Ms. Mango argued that the decision to send the students home was a deliberate move to deny them their right to participate in a cultural and artistic event, in violation of the Children’s Act and international child rights laws.

“The exclusion of the 50 students from the festival has caused them emotional distress, humiliation, and a loss of opportunity to showcase their talent,” she said.

She added that the play had already been successfully presented and adjudicated at sub-county, county, and regional levels, earning a coveted spot in the national finals.

“I know from experience as an actor that the play stands a high chance of making it to the podium at the national level,” Ms. Mango said.

The content of Echoes of War is largely a portrayal of the plight of the youth, commonly referred to as Gen Z. Interestingly, Ms. Mango was also part of the cast in the play Shackles of Doom, which faced a similar fate in 2013 when it was initially banned by the Ministry of Education, but later allowed to be staged at the national level following a court intervention.