All students from Butere Girls High School reported missing following a standoff over the controversial play ‘Echoes of War’ have now been located and are safe.
The alarm was first raised by former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, who revealed that several students had not been accounted for. “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 Thursday morning.
The confusion followed a tense night at the school, where police used teargas to disperse journalists and residents who had gathered outside. According to Malala, the affected students fled for safety and became separated from their peers. It was later confirmed that all the missing girls had been found unharmed.
The play ‘Echoes of War’ was scheduled for performance at the National Drama Festival on Thursday morning but was never staged. Police reportedly blocked Malala—who is also the play’s writer and director—from accessing the festival venue, prompting the students to decline participation.
Instead, the students walked on stage at around 8 am, sang the National Anthem, and left the stage in tears. They were also denied access to a public address system, a key component of their performance setup.
The play has attracted significant attention due to its focus on Kenya’s governance and the 2024 youth-led anti-government protests. Initially disqualified from the Western Region Drama Festivals under unclear reasons, a High Court ruling later overturned the decision, ordering its reinstatement at the national level.
However, new tensions flared on Wednesday when Malala was again blocked—this time from entering Kirobon Girls, the hosting school—leading to further disruptions.
