ODMcondemns attack on Butere Girls students

The Orange Democratic Party (ODM) has criticised the government over the mistreatment of Butere Girls High School students in Nakuru at the ongoing national Drama Festivals.

In a statement, ODM Secretary General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna stated that President William Ruto’s regime has shot itself in the foot by silencing the voice of the young girls.

“Of all the evidence we already have of the lack of focus of this regime, it has shot itself in the foot by harassing and attempting to dim the voices of young girls in school uniform,” Sifuna stated.

“Serious questions arise when the government is scared of Children’s art, a mere expression of talent in a high school festival,” he added.

The SG condemned the mistreatment of the girls, the attack on journalists as he demanded that the girls be allowed to perform their play.

He reiterated that freedom of speech is guaranteed in the Constitution and that people of all ages should freely enjoy it.

“We wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible the mistreatment of Butere Girls, journalists, and all participants of the National Drama Festival. We reiterate that freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution, and it allows people of all ages to express themselves freely. We demand that the authorities allow the girls to stage their play like everyone else,” he added.

The statement by ODM comes after Butere girls failed to present their play following frustration by the police and education officers.

They refused to perform their play, ‘Echoes of War,’ at Jones Lions Academy in Nakuru, demanding that their director, Cleophas Malala, be present.

The students performed the national anthem before bravely explaining to the adjudicators their reasons for not performing their play.

Before being forced to go to the stage, the students were denied access to their props, décor, and sound system, among others.

They were set to perform the controversial ‘Echoes of War’ play, which speaks about governance in the country and the 2024 Gen Z protest.

Viral videos on social media show the girls running as they chanted, wanting their director, as they added that they had been harassed by the police.

“We want our director.” They shouted.

“The police harassed us, they took us to the stage with nothing. We sang our national anthem and said we are not going to perform,” one of the girls stated.

The High Court allowed the Butere Girls to perform at the National Drama festival after they had been controversially banned from staging the play, and students were asked to go home.

The students got back to school over the weekend before making their way to Nakuru, where the event is taking place.

Yesterday, Malala claimed that there were orders from State House which education officers were using to frustrate the girls and him.