In Today’s court news; the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has moved to court seeking to compel the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival Committee to allow students from Butere Girls’ High School to stage their play, “Echoes of War“.
In a petition filed in court, the commission wants in the alternative for the court to suspend the ongoing drama festival until the matter is resolved.
They want Butere allowed to perform the play using the original script, incorporating the performers’ chosen props and décor, with support from their director and assistants, and in the presence of an audience.
KHRC says that proceeding with the festival without including the Butere Girls’ performance would violate the students’ rights to freedom of thought, conscience, information, expression, and opinion.
“The aforementioned absurd and malicious treatment has only been discriminatorily meted out against the Butere Girls, as all other schools have performed or are due to perform with their chosen props and décor and before an audience,” the court papers read.
The Commission further contends that the actions of the committee constitute a violation of their constitutional duty to promote, protect, respect, and fulfill the rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution.
