Graft and new law dominate festival

Corruption, poor governance, and the quest for a new constitution dominated presentations as the curtain fell on the Nyanza drama festival at St Jan’s Academy in Kisumu on Sunday.

A narrative, Wilbroda, by St Mary’s Yala and a solo verse, O Captain, by Agoro Sare took the top honours. The five-day fete was used to select the Nyanza teams to take part in the national drama festival scheduled for March 31 to April 4 in Kisumu.

Wilbroda depicts massive environmental degradation in which the beauty of the Mau Forest is spoiled. Agoro Sare High School of Rachuonyo South District took home two trophies when they won in both the solo and choral verses categories. 

Its choral verse, Shika Shika, written and directed by Beatrice Oketch, dwells on theft of public funds.  It depicts a community with a granary full of maize which is looted by those assigned to protect it. O Captain, written and directed by Moses Odipo, describes how leaders catapulted into positions of leadership end up as failures.

At the Coast, Ngala Memorial Girls Secondary of Malindi were the winners for the third consecutive year in the play category of the provincial drama festival. The school outshone more than five others with its 43-minute play, Susumali, which moved the adjudicators and audience.

The play, written and directed by Joseph Akwiri, portrays how some religious leaders support homosexuality. “They deserved to win although the judges had a tough time, given the high standard of productions,” said Mr Wycliffe Buhere, an adjudicator.

Winnie Onyona, who played the part of a man in the play, was selected best actress. The festival ended at Mombasa University College on Saturday evening. Last year’s dance champions, Kwale Girls Secondary, won again in the category while Aga Khan were the choral verse winners.

Waa Girls will represent the province at the national level after winning in the solo verse category. Fewer schools took part in this year’s festival due to lack of funds.