“Ruto Must Go”: Butere Girls Boycott Performance As ‘Echoes of War’ Play Turns into Political Protests

The much-anticipated performance of Echoes of War by Butere Girls High School at the National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru came to an abrupt and emotional halt on Thursday morning when the students refused to take the stage, transforming a theatrical showcase into a powerful act of defiance.

At around 8:00 a.m., the girls, some in their school uniforms, lined up before the audience at Kirobon Girls High School. Visibly shaken and teary-eyed, they stood in silence as their lead student stepped forward to deliver a raw, heartfelt speech. “We don’t have an audience,” she said, her voice trembling with frustration. She spoke of weeks without training, sleepless nights, and the absence of their directors—conditions that left them unable to perform. Instead of proceeding with the play, the students sang the national anthem, a poignant message to the government, before fleeing the stage in tears.

The boycott was the culmination of mounting setbacks for the troupe. Echoes of War, a provocative play exploring Kenya’s governance and the Gen Z-led protests of 2024, had already stirred controversy. Initially disqualified from the Western Region drama festivals under murky circumstances, it was reinstated by a High Court ruling, securing its spot at the nationals. Yet, the challenges persisted. The students were left unsupported—deprived of rehearsal time, resources, and, most critically, their scriptwriter and director, Cleophas Malala.

A Play Plagued by Controversy

Malala, a former Kakamega senator and vocal critic of President William Ruto’s administration, was barred from entering the festival venue on Wednesday. He claimed police blocked his vehicle and threatened arrest as he attempted to conduct final rehearsals. By late Wednesday evening, tensions escalated further when authorities reportedly arrested him, an action supporters decry as politically motivated. The government insists it was lawful, but the incident fueled outrage among the students and their supporters.

The girls’ refusal to perform was a direct demand for Malala’s release. “No Malala, no show,” became their unspoken rallying cry, echoing the defiance of the crowds outside who chanted “Ruto Must Go” and “No Butere, No Drama.” The situation spiraled as police lobbed tear gas to disperse journalists and onlookers gathered outside the school, forcing some fleeing students to seek refuge in a nearby institution.

Media Blackout and Public Backlash

Adding to the chaos, festival organizers announced on Thursday—day four of the event—that no cameras, including those for live streaming, would be permitted inside the venue. The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development’s Edu TV halted all media coverage, a move widely seen as an attempt to suppress the unfolding drama. This came just as Butere Girls’ performance, already delayed from 6:15 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., was set to begin.

The clampdown only amplified public criticism. Opposition leaders Gideon Moi and Eugene Wamalwa condemned the incident as “state repression” and an “attack on free expression.” “The girls of Butere are not enemies of the state. They should be celebrated, not punished,” Moi declared. Civil society groups hailed the students’ stand as “a new wave of youth-led resistance,” while pro-government voices dismissed the events as “cheap theatrics.”

A Stage for Resistance

What began as a platform for theatrical talent morphed into a fiery political protest. Online, debates raged: some praised the girls for their courage in standing by their mentor, while others accused them of being pawns in a political game. Malala, ousted from his role as Secretary General of the ruling party and now a prominent opposition figure, has long been a lightning rod for controversy.

Following Butere Girls’ boycott, students from other schools who were scheduled to perform have since staged walkouts in solidarity.