In brief
Controversy erupted at Kenya's national high-school drama competition when police used tear gas to break up a crowd eager to see the performance of "Echoes of War." The play reflects the disillusionment of Kenyan youth with their leaders amid recent tax protests and features scenes of conflict between youth and police. Initially disqualified, a High Court ruling later allowed it to participate, but tensions escalated on Thursday when audiences gathered to support the arrested scriptwriter, Cleophas Malala. The police had blocked him from final rehearsals, leading to a dramatic boycott by students from Butere Girls School. Malala was eventually released, calling the students' actions heroic, while officials raised concerns about political interference in education. International rights groups criticized the police's actions, and calls for free expression and serious dialogues around political involvement in educational events grew louder.
