President Ruto cuts short drama festival winners treat as military chief dies

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President William Ruto had to cut short his leisure at Sagana State Lodge when his second in command in the military died in a copter crash.

President William Ruto yesterday cut short the great entertainment he was receiving from winners of the 2024 edition 62 of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County.

He had just received the sad news of the demise of his second in command of the armed forces General Francis Ogolla in a helicopter crash in the volatile North Rift.

As per protocol, the President is expected to announce officially such an event, and had to quickly shuttle to Nairobi to be briefed and release that information to the public.

So a hilarious wind down of the day’s activities turned sombre, a reality that is commonly depicted in tragio-comedies that are naturally a characteristic of the annual drama festivals.

The national event had earlier taken place in Embu University Charter Hall and Kangaru School from April 8-17, to climax at the State Lodge as part of the annual routine.

Paradoxically, the predominant themes were those of banditry, drug abuse, the CBC dilemma, and other contemporary issues that are matters of concern in our cosmopolitan world.

Unknown to them as they sparked off mirth in a mouthful of rich talent, gallant men were being consumed in a hell fire of a helicopter crash a few hundreds of kilometres away. They had gone there to quench the fires of banditry that have ravaged the lives of young children like them in Kenyan territory.

Students take part in a past national drama festival. President Ruto was forced to cut short a show by the performers at Sagana State Lodge after Gen Francis Ogolla died in a copter crash yesterday.

Nonetheless, here are some of the winning items that were lined up for the President’s enjoyment.

A film “The Future is Ours” produced by Catherine Gikonyo tells the story of a loving Kombo who in two months impregnated four girls in a college. When the children were born, they were all named Kombo. By coincidence, all four meet at a teacher training college.

You may guess the rest, but Mukuuni Boys High School from Tharaka Nithi County was the overall winner in the play category. Their play “Play NO.10” won because of how the themes, plot and character were interwoven.

Moi Girls School emerged the winner with their choral verse “Angela” scripted by Isaac Kimiywi and produced by Margaret Njaaga, which highlighted the moral dilemmas minors face during school holidays.

A star player in a football team is suddenly kidnapped by bandits and convinced to “fight to liberate” his community. At the end, security agents capture the bandits.

Kangaru School also made it to the top in the Modern Dance, which is about students who have no access to clean and safe water.

Friends School Kamusinga’s Oral Narrative “Mambo” was another thrilling presentation. The narrative is a critique of radio talk show on relationships.

Charity Faith of Tigoi Girls High School won in Solo Verse that encourages the public to embrace arts and sports as they may lead to economic prosperity.

Kangaru Girls also won in their cultural creative dance “Jamba ya Bururi”.

Lwak Girls also made it with their oral narratives.

In the university category, Mount Kenya’s Thika Main Campus emerged the overall winner with the play “The Parasite”, a stinging commentary on independent African nations turning themselves into beggars, going around with begging bowls.

Kabarak University settled for position two with their play “Cry Freedom” scripted and directed by Michael Kiguta and Silas Temba, and Laikipia University was third.

Alupe University won the Cultural Creative dance as Zetech University and MKU came second and third.

In the Teacher’s Training colleges category, Kaimosi TTC emerged the overall winner in the play category with “Paradox in the Paradise” produced by Margaret Ryttoh and directed by Pascah Musonye.

This play revolves around Mtumishi Saulo who is accused of committing “religious genocide” against the poor. Lugari were second as Thogoto TTC came third.

Thogoto TTC won the Cultural Creative Dance with Mwomboko, a Gikuyu dance, as Kaimosi TTC came second with a Luhya dance, Imbosa.

Other winners in The TTC category were Chester TTC with Stand-up Comedy followed by  Egoji TTC and Kibabii TTC.

In the Modern Dance, Egoji TTC emerged the winner followed by Thogoto TTC.

Kaimosi TTC emerged the winner in the Oral Narrative followed by Mosoriot TTC and Murang’a TTC.

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UoN mourns late General Ogolla as a brilliant servant

By Brian Ndigo

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