Police vow action after journalists harassed at Nakuru drama festival

The National Police Service has pledged disciplinary action after officers allegedly harassed journalists covering an attempted arrest of former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala during the drama festivals in Nakuru.

The incident happened on Wednesday night at Kirobon High School, where journalists were documenting the events around Malala, who is said to have scripted the student play Echoes of War.

During a Thursday visit to Lamu County, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen confirmed the reports and apologised over the incident.

"There was an unfortunate situation where a tear gas hit a journalist, and it is regrettable. We apologise. It is not our intention to throw tear gas on our journalists," he said, adding that internal investigations had begun.

Murkomen defended students’ right to question society and government through artistic expression.

"For avoidance of doubt, as the security sector, we protect our children, and they have a right and freedom of expression. They also have a right to a holistic environment where they can appreciate society and question wrong things. They even have the right to disagree with the government of the day," he said.

However, he cautioned against political interference in schools, saying politicians should not use students to advance their agendas.

"There are boundaries that have been set in the education sector. Their teachers know how to teach. They can use euphemism and different kinds of language to criticise the government, criticise society and appreciate society," he added.

The Interior boss stressed that teachers, not politicians, should be guiding students in creating content for school competitions.

"What I request is that we need clarity in our country where our political competition is not brought to the education arena. I would really request that political party actors do not use our students to become the scriptwriters."

Murkomen questioned why a politician was behind the script instead of a teacher, saying this undermines the purpose of learning.

"Why can’t we allow teachers? Because even the competition itself loses value if teachers are not the ones writing the scripts. That is part of learning, so that our students can work with the teacher."

Asked whether the government was targeting the school, Murkomen said students have the freedom to express themselves, but political figures should stay away from education spaces.

"Ask yourself, as a Kenyan, how is it possible that we have reached a level where a politician has become the writer of a play for students? He is using the students for politics," he said.

"Even if you look down upon the government, we know that these schools have teachers. Let politicians leave the teachers to do their work and leave students out of our politics."

Malala, in response, said he has written plays for schools for years, and there has never been a problem.