By Enock Okong’o
Kebabe Secondary Principal Evans Ontita has attributed to the low turnout of secondary school students at the Kenyenya Secondary and Primary Schools’ Drama Festival to inadequate financing from both their schools and the Sub County Education office.
“We have acute financial problems in organizing this important event but that should not deter us from exposing our pupils to such important activities,” Ontita said.
Mr. Ontita, who is also the Festival’s secretary, appealed to teachers to treat drama like any other subject in school because it provides the opportunity for learners to exhibit their aesthetic and mental development.
Kenyenya Director of Education George Ouma echoed Ontita’s sentiments and asked teachers to motivate learners to use drama as a vehicle to recommend solutions for emerging challenges such as climate change, disease and corruption.
While addressing teachers and pupils during the opening of the Drama Festival, the Director said that apart from entertainment, drama communicates intricate concepts of life to society in a relaxed but thought-provoking way.
“Society is full its own share of problems and some can only be treated through music and dance therapy,” he said.
During the occasion that took off in ebbs, a few schools staged different artistic pieces ranging from spoken word, dramatized dances and free verses.
Kerongorori Secondary school carried the day with their play ‘Nature Speaks’ and it was followed by St. Edward Nyabioto’s Kiswahili play ‘Matambara ni nguo pia’ whose theme was land reclamation and rehabilitation.
Another school, Kenyenya Secondary performed an item entitled ‘Violence Must Stop’ where the lead, Ivon Mokua moved the audience to tears as he pricked their minds to ponder on the evils wrapped in the bag of defilement on the underage girl child.
Further, Kenyoro PAG Secondary school swept the dust up but swept the floor with their dramatized dance Egurugura (the drought) which covered the theme of afforestation as a panacea for climate change.
The primary section was mainly represented by St. Elizabeth Academy Mogonga.
In their dance and song titled ‘Monkeys have bodies too’, the pre-primary kids spoke to the world by using simple symbols to say that children’s rights should be recognized and respected.
According to Mr. Ontita the Festival is expected to end on Friday before the winners proceed to the county level.
