Kenya’s national high-school drama competition has been overshadowed by drama of its own after police fired tear gas to disperse a crowd that had gathered to watch a controversial play.
Echoes of War is set in a fictional kingdom where the youth have lost faith in their leaders.
It features battles with the police and has drawn parallels with last year’s protests by young people against tax rises.
It was initially disqualified from the drama festival under unclear circumstances, but a High Court ruling overturned the decision and ordered it to be included.
Tensions flared in the western town of Nakuru on Thursday morning when students stormed out of the venue, demanding the release of the play’s author, Cleophas Malala, who had been detained by police.
The scriptwriter and former senator who had penned the production for students from Butere Girls School, was blocked by police from meeting the students for final rehearsals on Wednesday evening.
Malala was later released without charge and praised the students for boycotting the play.
