Malala blasts ban on school plays, says government fears students
By Kiprono Keileb, April 9, 2026Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has criticised the reported blocking of a school play from advancing in national drama festivals, warning that such actions undermine freedom of expression among students and creatives.
In a statement made during a political talk show hosted by a local television station on Thursday, April 9, 2026, Malala expressed concern over what he described as increased scrutiny and control of school productions, especially those perceived to touch on political themes.
He argued that any government that feels threatened by student performances risks weakening its own position, saying creative spaces should remain open for expression and debate without fear or interference.
“Playwright and Director: When a government fears students, it has already lost the argument. It is very unfortunate for a government to be paranoid about its own citizens,” Malala said.
Malala also expressed disappointment over reports that a school play was blocked from progressing to the next stage due to perceived political undertones linked to the president’s development vision.
“I am very disappointed to hear that a play was disallowed to proceed to the next stage just because it had insinuations of the president’s desires to take the country to Singapore,” he said.
The Deputy Party leader further claimed that recent developments within the drama festival committees point to growing external influence, arguing that the space meant to nurture talent is now being restricted.
“I think after Echoes of War, the drama committee has become very paranoid; it has become a puppet of the executive,” he said.
School drama festivals in Kenya have long served as platforms for young people to express social, cultural and political issues, often sparking national conversations through creative storytelling.
New guidelines
The guidelines of the 2026 Kenya Drama and Film Festivals Rules and Guidelines imposed a blanket ban on political content.
The rules dictate that school drama must not engage in politics directly or indirectly. This includes references to current leaders, governments, policies, or even symbolic representations that could be interpreted as political commentary.
The Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination, Dennis Itumbi, has dismissed claims that the government is “policing” student creativity, asserting that the guidelines for school drama festivals are long-standing and purely pedagogical.
Itumbi clarified that the rules regarding political content are not a knee-jerk reaction to current events, but rather a core part of the festival’s historical framework.