Kenya, April 10 -- The saga surrounding Butere Girls High School's performance of Echoes of War at the 63rd Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals took a new turn this morning as police continued to enforce a strict lockdown at Melvin Jones Hall.
In a surprising development, journalists, students from other schools, and members of the local community remain barred from entering the venue, while only the Butere Girls troupe has been granted access.
Eyewitnesses reported that as of 10:30 AM EAT, the school's students were escorted into the hall under tight security, carrying their props and costumes.
Sources close to the festival indicate that the play, written by former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, will proceed as scheduled-but in an empty auditorium, with no audience permitted beyond the performers and a handful of festival officials.
The decision follows hours of uncertainty after police sealed off the venue earlier today, preventing media coverage and public attendance.
"They've locked us out completely," said a visibly frustrated journalist at the scene. "Only the girls from Butere are inside now. It's like they're staging a performance for ghosts."
The move has fuelled speculation that authorities are attempting to minimise the play's visibility, which has stirred controversy for its politically charged themes tied to the 2024 Gen Z protests.
Despite a court order earlier this month reinstating the production, the heavy police presence and restricted access suggest lingering resistance to its public airing.
Festival organizers declined to comment on the unusual arrangement, and no explanation has been provided by the police for allowing only the performers inside.
Meanwhile, the exclusion of other students and the community has sparked outrage online, with netizens calling it a "mockery of free expression" and a "silent censorship" of the arts.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.