Chief Justice Martha Koome has condemned the police for using tear gas against students of Butere Girls High following their controversial play, Echoes of War.
Police officers lobbed tear gas at the students who were leaving the National Drama Festival, which was being held in Nakuru.
That was after the students had declined to perform the play and left the stage, heading directly towards the school bus.
In a statement on Thursday, April 10, 2025, Koome raised concerns that the officers violated the welfare of the children under the Constitution, the Children’s Act and international human rights instruments.
She questioned whether the officers had complied with the High Court orders that directed the organisers of the Kenya National Drama Festivals to ensure the students perform the play.
“Defiance of court orders not only undermines the authority of the courts but also poses a serious threat to the rule of law, which is the bedrock of our society”, she stated.
“Any deviation from this path erodes public confidence in our institutions and poses a danger to our democracy. I therefore condemn today’s events as they deviate from the path of the rule of law and constitutional duty to protect the rights of all, especially our children, in every sphere of public and private life,” she added.
