by Michael Muraya
@Michael_muraya
This weekend, the Kenya Schools and Colleges theatre and film festival’s curtains came down at the regional levels as institutions across the county battled for a slot at the national stage.
Nzoia region, which comprises Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and Turukana counties, held the regional festival at Friends School Kamusinga.
In the play category, Butere Girl’s High School trounced other competitors to emerge top with their play, “The Quagmire,” a piece scripted and directed by Mahiakalo Ward rep, Cleophas Malala. The play is set in Maasai Mara and tells the story of a poverty-stricken community that has offered to give the community’s most beautiful girl, Sanaipei, to white settlers in exchange for development projects.
However, on the wedding day, the girl announces she wants to become a nun, instigating rising dramatic conflicts that kept the audience glued to the last minute.
Kakamega High School came second and Chavakali High School was third, with a play also scripted and directed by Malala.
Aberdare region
At the Rift Valley region, Tartar Girls High School out-shined other schools to scoop awards in the Solo verse, narrative, creative cultural dance and choral verse categories.
In Aberdare region (former Central province) Alliance Boys shone in the play category. Tumutumu Girls won in the choral verse category.
The Nyanza region festival went down at Lions High School where a performer from Siburi Mixed Secondary School tickled the audience to emerge top in the stand-up comedy category.
In the Eastern region Festival held at Muthambi Girls in Tharaka Nithi county, Kegonge High School jiggled their way to victory in the modern dance category with their captivating dance, Mosquito Squad, which crusaded for protective measures against malaria. Siakago Boys carried the day in the solo verse category with the poem, “The Miller”, a piece about the runaway corruption in the country. Nkubu High School won in the play category with the presentation, “The Last Exodus,” a dramatic retell of the biblical story of Moses and Aaron.
In his closing speech at the Eastern region, Kenya National Drama chairman Chokera Kahura said the quality of items presented was exemplary and thanked heads of institutions for supporting talent.
“Everyone on the stage is a winner. The quality of items on stage reflect the effort that both teachers and students put to craft an item,” he said.
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