The High Court has made its ruling regarding the banning of Butere Girls School play Echoes of War, directing the Ministry of Education to ensure its participation accordingly.

Lady Justice Winfridah Okwany castigated the Western Regional Director of Education for his role in the ban warning of dire consequences including a Sh2 million fine should the government fail to have the school perform the play Echoes of War written by Cleophas Malalah.

But in a pre-emptive move, the Education PS  Julius Bitok had announced on Monday the play would be staged at the nationals after all.

To this end, a greenlight on the national programme has been granted and the play is now set to be performed on Thursday at Melvin Jones Hall I  Nakuru.

Little problem

“There was a little problem around the play Echoes of War but that has since been resolved and the play will feature here,” said Prof Bitok whilst officially opening the fete on Monday.

The tactical humble pie eating was to avoid a court order that the official saw would paint the government in bad taste. This is the second time Butere Girls have been banned and eventually allowed to perform at the national stage.

Lawyer Ken Echesa for the school has vowed to push the case to have those involved in the ban face the Law.

At the same time, defending champions Buruburu Girls stole the show at the ongoing Kenya Drama and Film Festival with a thrilling cultural creative dance, Yawne Yoo as Butere Girls play Echoes of Doom set to show this Thursday.

The audience was on the edge as it sampled one of the Kenya’s best ever dance troupe at the fete leaving no doubt that Kenya has talent galore.

A befitting set of colourful costumes were functional describing the different roles including children, construction workers mothers.

Set on the lakeside village of Sango soft waters, the dance explores the issue of self-sustainability as a way to mitigate unemployment in this digital age.

In the dance that has drama infused in the formations and movements, a mother graduates with a degree in civil engineering and building construction but cannot secure a job because the perceived a male dominated field.

Her ever innovative daughter shows her a brick making machine they had earlier seen in class as part of her tech inclusion lesson.

The mother vends porridge at the very construction site where she could not get a job and saves some cash to buy parts to make the machine.

She goes ahead to purchase a machine that makes bricks her eyes trained on the same construction site as her market. Within a short time she is realised financial freedom creating employment for over 20 men and women.

Entertaining

The soloists Mercy Deborah, Ruth Joana and Veronica Moraa were in their element as they led the cast in a colourful and entertaining piece produced by Stella Wambua and directed by Patrick Ngere.

Mary Mongeli (Drums), Angela Wangari (Marimba), Ruth Mongeli (Orutu), Victoria Natasha (Nyatiti), Joy Faith (Flute), Christina Neema (Shakers), Peace Masiah ( Metal Ngong) and vocalists such as Gesuinah Anyango blended so well to bring out a truly authentic African Orchestra.

As they left the stage the fully packed audience was asking for more and it was hard to notice that lunch time had passed by over 30 minutes.

“We hope for the best,” quipped the School Chief Principal Stella Wambua.

Fr Oudera School for the Hearing Impaired made a good impression proving that disability is not inability when they staged a Kenyan Sign Language play, Code of Redemption.

Poor performance

The play depicts a student Jabali who has an interest in becoming the school captain however because of his poor performance he is unable to qualify for the contest.

This makes him attempt to interfere with the results of the examinations, a move that makes him punishment.

However, he is encouraged to use his it skills to create a gaming app that attracts sponsors who decide to sponsor the school to build an ICT center in this play was directed by Austine Ogalo Otto and produced by Samuel Demba