Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary and seasoned public servant Justin Muturi has issued a scathing condemnation of the police action at the National Drama Festival in Nakuru, where Butere Girls High School students were reportedly tear-gassed while performing a theatrical piece. In a strongly worded statement, Muturi decried what he termed as “barbaric and retrogressive actions” by law enforcement officers, calling the incident a stain on Kenya’s democratic ideals and a betrayal of its youth.
“When a government starts trembling at the sight of schoolgirls performing a play,” Muturi stated, “then we must all pause and ask: what exactly is it running from?”
According to witnesses, the students from Butere Girls were performing a piece that touched on current socio-political issues, when police interrupted the event, deploying tear gas and causing panic among students and attendees. The play, which had passed vetting for the festival, was reportedly critical in tone, prompting speculation that its content may have triggered the crackdown.
Muturi questioned the rationale behind using force against minors engaging in artistic expression, arguing that such actions reflect a growing intolerance for truth and dissent.
“Our young people are not the enemy,” he emphasized. “They are the soul of our nation. Their voices must not be silenced; their creativity must not be crushed under the boots of fear.”
The former Speaker of the National Assembly also criticized the Ministry of Sports, the Arts and the Creative Economy for failing to protect young performers and uphold artistic freedoms. He expressed disappointment that an administration which professes to champion youth empowerment would instead allow intimidation and state violence to suppress creative expression.
“A country that cannot handle a high school play,” Muturi said, “has no business preaching democracy or claiming to uphold constitutional freedoms. This regime must understand that it was not elected to intimidate children. It was put in place to protect them, to nurture them, to create an environment where their talents and ideas can thrive—not to tear-gas them into silence.”
The incident has sparked outrage across the country, with human rights organizations, educators, and parents demanding accountability and a public apology from the government. Calls have also been made for an independent investigation into the incident and the immediate suspension of officers involved.
As pressure mounts, Muturi’s voice joins a growing chorus demanding that the state recommit itself to upholding the freedoms enshrined in the Constitution—especially the right of the youth to express themselves through the arts, without fear of violence or censorship.
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