Parents and residents of Kakamega now want accountability for what they term humiliation of Butere Girls students at the National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru.

They said they watched with horror as the government unleashed terror on the young learners and tear-gassed them while trying to exhibit art. To them, the government’s assault on the play was a sign of a dictatorial regime keen to censor and stifle creativity.

The parents claimed they had been hoping the government would allow their children to perform Echoes of War without unnecessary drama by State agents.

The learners, who had travelled from Kakamega after the High Court overturned the Ministry of Education’s ban on their play, were denied access to the festival venue and held in seclusion under tight security for several hours, with parents urging President William Ruto to intervene and call to order injustice being meted against them and safeguard democracy.

Speaking to The Standard, the parents said what happened to the girls is demoralising, scary and unfair because to their safety.

“It was heartbreaking. My daughter called me crying. They were taken to the venue and treated like they had committed a crime. She was scared because it was her first time to witness chaos, violence and a heavy presence of police. The play is not worth those children’s lives, but where did freedom go? It is not even funny because a life can be lost,” Gladys Maende said.

A worried Florence Achieng, a parent from Khwisero, said she couldn’t sleep because she feared that something bad might happen to the girls.

“Is this how we reward talent and courage? As a woman, I can’t sleep watching our children being frustrated in another county. I urge President Ruto, if he has a hand in it, to kindly step back,” said Achieng.

Achieng said she was shocked how the law wasn’t obeyed and how the government opted to deploy a huge contingent of police officers just to guard a play, yet there are places where insecurity is high.

Vincent Wamalwa, another parent, also expressed his frustration, saying he was unhappy with how the girls were asked to remain inside their buses and were not allowed to interact with other participants.

“We are shocked that a valid court order could be ignored so blatantly. These girls had done nothing wrong. They poured their hearts into that play, only to be treated like pariahs, and suddenly, Malala is arrested,” Wamalwa said.

He said that the girls would return home demoralised and emotionally drained if not allowed to participate in the festival.

“They were humiliated. They were under constant watch, like they were a security threat. These are children. They didn’t deserve this. This sends a bad message to students across the country that even when the law is on your side, you can still be silenced,” he said.

Parents now want the Ministry of Education and the festival organizers to issue a public apology and take responsibility for the ordeal.

“These girls were representing their school, their county, and the region. They deserved support, not intimidation. We want answers, and we want justice,” said another parent.

Some artists who spoke to The Standard condemned the harassment of the younger girls, urging the playwright to consider the Stage Play Act in coming up with any play. They also called on the government to use the right procedure of censoring any play that it deems immoral.

“It was traumatising for the young learners, especially throwing teargas at them, because some may give up, while for others, it will be their turning point in realising their talent. We want our young and upcoming artists to exploit their full potential in recognising their talents and utilising them as a source of income,” said Profesa Eshuya, a former actor at Mushamba show.