Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has emphasized that the Government supports freedom of speech and is not in the business of censorship, amid backlash over the handling of Butere Girls’ stage play Echoes of War.
Speaking on the fifth day of his Jukwaa La Usalama tour in Tana River County, CS Murkomen clarified that he had not condemned the student play, which was scheduled to be showcased during the 63rd edition of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru.
He said his concerns were not with the content of the play but rather with the “involvement of political activists in the education of our children.”
“The Government is not in any way threatened by Echoes of War, or any script, for that matter,” said the CS. “Like many of us, I studied literature and I understand the important role it plays in shaping society. Teachers are best suited to guide students within the framework of professional conduct.”
Murkomen also called on politicians to keep students out of partisan political agendas.
“I am a full supporter of freedom of speech and media, so long as there is no hate, insults or glorification of crime,” he added.
His comments follow a public apology issued on Thursday after journalists were teargassed while covering rehearsals for the Butere Girls play. The CS assured the public that any security personnel found to have used excessive force during the incident would be held accountable.
During his visit to Tana River, Murkomen assessed the progress of key government services, including the ongoing mobile registration of national ID cards. He highlighted new policies such as the abolition of extra vetting for applicants from border counties and the removal of application fees for first-time ID applicants.
He also announced plans to host a town hall meeting to address resource-based conflicts and disaster preparedness in the county, which is frequently affected by both drought and flooding.
“Tana River is one of the counties most affected by climate change. We must deliberate on sustainable solutions to address these challenges,” he said.
The CS further pledged to improve the welfare of police and national administrators, citing the need to end the perception of hardship postings in remote areas. He pointed to the upcoming recruitment of 10,000 police officers and stricter implementation of rotation policies as key measures to address staffing challenges in underserved regions.
Murkomen was accompanied by Tana River Governor Dr. Dhadho Godhana, Senator Danson Mungatana, local MPs, top security officials, and Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha.
