Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has affirmed that the government did not ban Butere Girls’ School from staging the play Echoes of War.

Speaking in Mombasa during the high school sports games, he said the students themselves chose not to perform.

“When it was time for the students to take the stage, one of them stepped forward and announced they would not perform without their director,” Ogamba explained.

He added that the girls insisted on the presence of Cleophas Malala, who is neither a teacher at the school nor the play’s director.

Earlier, The Standard reported that the students were prevented from accessing an audience, costumes, soundtracks, or a proper stage setup. Anti‑riot police, armed with batons and tear‑gas canisters, had sealed off the venue, denying entry to both media and the public.

The students, however, maintained that they could not proceed without the necessary materials.

In contrast, a school teacher told The Standard that three trainers were barred from entering the venue and were harassed by officials.

Ogamba’s comments came just minutes after Malala’s release. According to the scriptwriter: “I was arrested and placed in a Subaru, then taken to a forest by the DCI and later to Eldama Ravine, where I was held without water, food, or access to my lawyer. I was released a few minutes ago without any charges.”

The students are now en route back to Butere.