Martha Karua has sharply criticised the government for outlawing plays with political themes during the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival. In a statement posted on her official X account (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Karua questioned why authorities were fearful of students presenting works that touch on politics, arguing that the directive amounts to censorship.
Karua said politics directly influences the lives and futures of young people, and therefore discouraging schools from incorporating political themes in drama undermines their right to expression.
“The arts have always been Kenya’s mirror. When that mirror makes the powerful uncomfortable, the answer is not to break it. Why tell students not to speak about politics when it directly affects their lives and futures?” she wrote.
She added that silencing school drama protects those in power from truths that children already see. According to Karua, artistic freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, and suppressing it risks eroding accountability and openness.
“Artistic freedom is not a threat to Kenya; however, a government that silences its children is,” she cautioned.
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Her remarks followed reports that a school had been disqualified from the competitions for referencing “Singapore” in its performance. The incident highlighted the strict enforcement of the new rules, which impose a blanket ban on political content.
The 2026 Kenya Drama and Film Festival Rules and Guidelines stipulate that school productions must not engage in politics either directly or indirectly.
The restrictions extend to references to current leaders, governments, policies, or even symbolic representations that could be interpreted as political commentary.
By Masaki Enock
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