Drama festival highlights Kenya’s digital shift, governance and financial gaps
By Edwin Mbugua, April 9, 2026Kenya’s complex journey through rapid technological change, governance challenges, and economic uncertainty has found a powerful voice not in policy rooms but on stage.
At the ongoing 64th Kenya National Drama and Film Festival in Nyeri, students are transforming theatre into a mirror of society, boldly interrogating the country’s shifting digital landscape while calling out leadership failures and the urgent need for financial literacy.
Staged across Kagumo Teachers Training College, Nyeri National Polytechnic, and Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, this year’s performances go beyond entertainment.
They deliver thought-provoking narratives that reflect a nation in transition grappling with automation, political accountability, digital inclusion, and economic resilience.
Under the theme “Digital Stages: Driving Kenya’s Development Through Theatre and Film”, learners are using drama, dance, and spoken word to unpack how technology is reshaping livelihoods, sometimes at a cost.
One of the standout productions, “The Cyclone” by Eregi TTC, delivers a gripping political allegory on leadership and accountability. The play follows two brothers, Tembo and Mushimuli, locked in a symbolic struggle for power.
While Tembo represents selfish ambition and destructive politics, Mushimuli champions people-centred development, advocating for access to healthcare, water, insurance, and financial support systems. Tembo’s eventual downfall drives home a stark message on the consequences of poor governance.
“The play reflects the cost of unchecked leadership and the possibilities of competent governance,” the scriptwriter noted.
Technological impact
The disruptive impact of technology on livelihoods also takes centre stage. In “Fire Me Feed Me”, Tumutumu Primary School tells the story of a family thrown into crisis after a father loses his job to automation.
Yet, amid the disruption, hope emerges as a child harnesses digital tools to create new opportunities, highlighting both the risks and promise of a tech-driven economy.
Agriculture, a backbone of Kenya’s economy, is reimagined through Kwale High School’s dance “Blessed Machinery”, which portrays farmers battling water scarcity and pests while envisioning a future powered by agri-tech innovations such as automated irrigation and smart farming solutions.
Students are also confronting the double-edged nature of digital culture. Sigalagala National Polytechnic’s “Suzana” explores the dangers of social media misuse, while St. John’s Tala High School’s “Power Edition” showcases how digital platforms from podcasts to live streaming can nurture talent, promote inclusivity, and instil positive values among young people.
Amid these narratives, financial literacy has emerged as a recurring and urgent theme.
Cultural dances
A cultural dance by Rae-Kanyaika blends tradition with modern financial education, encouraging communities to embrace saving through accessible digital banking platforms.
Through vibrant choreography and song, the performance underscores the importance of financial planning in an increasingly cashless economy.
“Our cultural dance aimed to sensitise the community on the importance of saving, especially now that there are accessible digital banking platforms,” said patron Steve Opiyo. “We wanted to show that even as we embrace technology, we can still use our cultural identity to pass important messages.”
Opiyo added that a complementary contemporary piece addressed the growing concern of excessive phone use among learners.
“While technology can empower, it can also distract. We are encouraging students to strike a balance between digital engagement and academic focus,” he said.
Inclusivity in education also features prominently, as DePaul Austin Academy’s “I Sign, Come We Engage” tells the story of a young girl unable to attend school due to disability, whose life is transformed through digital learning tools. The production highlights how technology can break barriers and expand access for learners with special needs.
Director Ann Njau said the play draws from real-life experiences and aims to challenge perceptions around disability.
“We want learners to understand that a special need is not an inability. With the right support and innovation, every child can fully participate in education,” she said.
Festival chairperson
Festival chairperson Professor CJ Odhiambo emphasised the importance of integrating technology and social realities into creative expression, noting that such engagements prepare learners for an increasingly complex world.
“By engaging with these realities on stage, students are better equipped to navigate the tensions between tradition and a rapidly evolving technological landscape,” he said.
However, he raised concern over persistent inequalities in the education system, warning that learners in urban informal settlements face challenges similar to those in marginalised rural regions.
“As Kenya advances education reforms, policymakers must adopt a more inclusive lens that recognises deprivation across both rural and urban settings,” he said.
Odhiambo revealed plans to push for the digitalisation of the National Drama Festival as part of a broader effort to align co-curricular activities with the country’s digital learning agenda. He stressed that no school should be left behind.
“The digitalisation of the festival is not an isolated effort—it is part of a wider journey to ensure all learners benefit from a nationally coordinated digital transformation,” he said.