Kenya, April 10 -- The 63rd Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals descended into chaos late Thursday afternoon when police lobbed tear gas at students from Butere Girls High School outside Melvin Jones Hall in Nakuru.

The violent escalation followed the troupe's silent protest on stage, where they sang the national anthem, stood in silence, and exited without performing their controversial play, Echoes of War.

The confrontation began shortly after the students left the venue, greeted by a supportive crowd chanting "No Butere, No Drama" and "Ruto Must Go."

Witnesses report that tensions flared when police moved to disperse the gathering, allegedly without warning.

Tear gas canisters were fired directly into the group, sending students and onlookers fleeing in panic as clouds of acrid smoke filled the air.

"They were just walking out, and suddenly the police started throwing tear gas," said an eyewitness, a Nakuru resident who had come to support the girls.

"Some of the students were coughing and crying-it was chaos." Several Butere Girls students were seen struggling to breathe, with peers rushing to assist them amid the confusion.

The incident marks the second time this week that law enforcement has clashed with those linked to Echoes of War, a play written by former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala that critiques governance and echoes the 2024 Gen Z protests.

On Wednesday, police had tear-gassed journalists and supporters during a rehearsal standoff at Kirobon Girls High School, injuring six.

Festival organizers and local authorities have yet to state the latest violence, though the heavy-handed response has reignited accusations of intimidation and censorship.

Netizens exploded with outrage, with users sharing videos of the tear gas attack and condemning the police action. "Tear gas on schoolgirls for singing the anthem? This is Ruto's Kenya," one user wrote, capturing a wave of public fury.

The situation in Nakuru remains tense, with reports of sporadic clashes between police and protesters near Melvin Jones Hall. The Butere Girls troupe has reportedly left the area, their departure marking a tumultuous end to their participation in the Drama Festivals.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.