POWER OF ART: FIVE Pro-People Plays Stifled By Gov’t Since Jomo Kenyatta Era
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” An excerpt from William Shakespeare’s play ‘As You Like It’ written in 1599.
The writer was at it again exactly 12 years ago, when he wrote ‘The Shackles of Doom’, similar to the infamous ‘Echoes of War’ play by former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala.
The highly-vetted show made news, prompting the government to cancel the National Secondary Schools’ Drama Festivals Gala in Mombasa County in April 2013.
11 years ago, Cleophas Malala's play called Shackles of Doom performed by Butere Girls also got banned by the govt.
— The Government Critic 🇰🇪 (@magwaz3) April 10, 2025
Same thing is happening with the Echoes of War today. Malala is a legend pic.twitter.com/UFKHcWpSUw
The thrilling 48-minute drama, which was also produced by Butere Girls High School at the time, depicted a fake group known as the True People of Kana, a reference to the Turkana community.
The group expressed concerns about exploitation by an affluent community from the Mt. Kenya region.
The dominating tribe, which purchased the True People of Kana’s territory, constructed a Mafuta oil refinery before assigning the indigenous menial duties.
“I was just trying to expose the evil deeds in the society. The word ‘Shackles of Doom’ came to my mind and worked so well,” says Malala.
It took the intervention of then-activist and current Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah to salvage the show.
“I filed Petition No. 192 of 2013, and the High Court, in a decisive ruling by Justice David Majanja, affirmed that students have the right to speak, to challenge, and to create. The ban was struck down,” stated Omtatah.
Just over ten years after the country’s independence, acclaimed playwright Prof. Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s play ‘I Will Marry When I Want,’ produced in 1977 and depicting post-colonial conflicts, was rejected as soon as it was performed.
On 30 December 1977, shortly after the release of his play "I Will Marry When I Want", Ngugi was taken into custody by law enforcement officials and held without charges for questioning. Ngugi was often criticized by detractors for "dragging politics into art." https://t.co/zp9pgyDy2o pic.twitter.com/jQ9fcqYcci
— Komen 🥑 (@IntrepidKomen) April 10, 2025
Officers in President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s government were dissatisfied with the content.
Playwright Peter Amunga says: “Walikuwa wanaongelea mwanasheria Charles Njonjo ambaye alikuwa ameoa wakati huo akisema niko na mamlaka. Iliibua tumbo joto yule Ngugi wa Thiong’o akitoroka akaenda uhamisho.”
The contentious play made a comeback two years ago, after being banned for 30 years prior.
And, like his predecessor, Kenya’s second president, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, expressed a dislike for critical theatre.
Moi rejected Tim Wandiri’s play, ‘Makwekwe’ (loosely translated as ‘Weeds’). The drama teacher would eventually lose his employment, as was common practice at the time.
In 1982, the government shut down two other plays. Khaemba Ongetti’s ‘Visiki’ (translated as ‘Tribulations’) was performed by Chepterit Girls’ School, while Nairobi School performed ‘Kilio’ (‘A Cry’). The list goes on.
And now, ‘Echoes of War,’ which has sent shockwaves across the nation due to its thought-provoking nature, is facing similar issues, sparking concerns that the country is slipping back into the dark ages.
Veteran Lawyer Gitobu Imanyara says: “I still bear the scars of Nyayo House and I will take medicine for life but that’s a small price to pay.”
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He added: “We need to learn from history, from those who have gone through this and remind William Ruto that when he was in YK-92 fighting against us, we fought successfully and repealed Section 2A and gave Kenyans a new Constitution.”
In 2013, when the government sought to silence Shackles of Doom, a bold play by Cleophas Malala performed by Butere Girls, I took a stand. I filed Petition No. 192 of 2013, and the High Court, in a decisive ruling by Justice David Majanja, affirmed that students have the right… pic.twitter.com/wmeZyQXjMx
— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) April 10, 2025
“The 2013 ruling stands as a reminder that no government can silence the voices of the youth and its citizens,” adds Omtatah.
The history makers are calling for the respect of art.
Imanyara says: “You don’t run away from yourself. Drama is you. Act I, as Amunga, I can’t run from myself.”
Amunga, on his part, says: “President, read the signs. Mandela said the price of freedom is vigilance.”
POWER OF ART: FIVE Pro-People Plays Stifled By Gov’t Since Jomo Kenyatta Era
