Street children yesterday invaded the venue of the ongoing drama and film festival in Nakuru. Sniffing glue and other banned substances, the street urchins numbering over 50 were in the venue asking for food and money from children participating at the festival.

This development has raised serious concerns over the safety of the venue that prides itself of being a “drug free zone”. Despite learners complaining over the matter, it has landed on deaf ears of the festival organisers.

The festival national Chairman Christopher Odhiambo said he was aware of the matter and had escalated the matter with security apparatus.

“The matter came to our attention and I indicated it to the persons concerned”, said Prof Odhiambo.

Bad precedent

Paradoxically, one of the areas with a high concentration of the urchins is just an arm’s length from a police post at the venue. Last year, there were reports of drug peddlers who were selling marijuana to pupils at the schools and colleges music festival at Moi Secondary School Eldoret. Police apprehended suspects with rolls of bhang at the venue as they were selling it to young participants.

Yesterday, a teacher reported a loss of a cell phone at the venue.

“Whosoever has seen a smart phone in this hall please bring it to the announcement desk,” belted the MC at one of the halls.