Kaaga Girls and Moi Girls Marsabit among winners as Easter region drama fete ends

Kaaga Girls High School’s choral verse Theatre of Dreams, produced by Chief Principal Eunice Maeke, emerged as the overall winner at the Eastern Regional Drama and Film Festival held at the Mwingi Resource Centre in Kitui.

The school qualified for the national stage with three items: the choral verse, a Kiswahili play ranked fourth overall, and a cultural creative dance that took third position.

Theatre of Dreams—written and directed by Johnson wa Nyaguthii—tells the inspiring story of Felicity, a visually impaired girl determined to chase her dreams. Despite facing opposition from a cynical gatekeeper, Felicity overcomes the odds with the help of a supportive sponsor.

The school also impressed with a dramatic solo verse titled Simu Nuksi, which follows the misfortunes of a girl who unknowingly buys a stolen phone.

In the Kiswahili choral verse category, Chuka Girls High School qualified for the nationals with a compelling piece produced by Joan Muchina. It is about a hardworking mother toiling in a quarry to support her daughter’s education.

After being disappointed with her daughter’s grades, she threatens to withdraw support until her daughter’s acting talent shines on TikTok and earns her a Sh1 million prize. The daughter helps transform her mother’s business by buying a stone crusher and bringing in more clients thanks to her teacher’s online promotion.

Last year’s national champions, Mukuuni Boys from Tharaka-Nithi County, staged a play on the dangers of poor nutrition and parental negligence. The play tells the story of a child whose health deteriorates because of eating junk food. But through a proper diet and lifestyle changes, he improves and is able to resume playing tennis.

Kilungu Boys from Makueni County presented a gripping drama on drug trafficking networks, with the illicit cargo transported in coffins with the help of a rogue bishop. Its twists left the audience stunned.

Tumaini Girls International from Machakos County delivered a powerful Kiswahili play Mkuki Moyoni, revolving around a broken family, a father who abandons his duties, and the resilience of a daughter who rises through the Wings to Fly scholarship programme after the father is left blind and destitute.

Moi Girls Marsabit—fondly known as the “Desert Queens”—thrilled audiences with their Borana cultural creative dance Jai Jilo Kal Jilo Llye, which highlighted the hardships of life in Northern Kenya amid drought and insecurity. The piece took the first position. Mwaani Girls took second place while Kaaga Girls came third.

St Joseph’s Seminary Mwingi, Kitui School and Mwaani Ilima from Makueni impressed in the live TV broadcast genre. While Kitui focused on visuals, Mwaani Ilima stood out for their presentation skills.

At the junior school level, Kitengela International School Syokimau won the TV Live Broadcast category with How CBC Impacts Urban Farming. It discussed how urban farming, or kitchen gardening, is helping urban dwellers cope with the rising cost of living.

“We produced the best of the best. As we head to the nationals in Nakuru, we remain upbeat,” said Nashon Omukhobero, the director.