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Music festival season underway amid concerns over student unrest
Mukumu Girls JS presents a Modern dance during the 64th Kenya National Drama and Film Festival at Kagumo Teachers Training College on April 9, 2025.
The 2026 schools’ music festival season has commenced across various regions of the country, with institutions kicking off the journey towards national performances that are scheduled to take place at Kibabii University in August.
While many schools had adequately prepared their items, recent cases of student unrest are expected to affect participation levels. Many schools are expected to have last-minute rehearsals to catch up with the ones where learning has been uninterrupted.
Nyeri County has been among the first to host its festival, with performances having started on June 11 and are scheduled to end on June 13 at Rware High School.
Qualifying items in the secondary schools’ category will then head to the Central Region Music Festival scheduled for July 8-11 at the Murang’a TTC. Primary and junior schools will hold the regional extravaganza on July 5-8.
The Nairobi sub-regional music festival is set to take place from June 16. According to Nairobi Music Festival Secretary Eric Odeko, the festival calendar for Nairobi will start at Nairobi West from June 16-18 and end at Nairobi North on June 19.
The Nairobi regional festival will be held from June 30 to July 3, and qualifying items will then head to the nationals that are scheduled for August 1-14.
Equity Bank remains the main sponsor of the festival, which promises a rich display of poetry, choreography, music composition, folk dances, percussion, and choir performances.
During the official opening of the Nyeri County Music Festival on Thursday, Mr Simon Njiru of Equity Bank’s Nyeri branch presented trophies to winners.
The Nyeri County Director of Education, Mr John Thiringi, said that during day one of the festival, discipline should be a steady rhythm that guides students and helps define foundations of success.
“The resounding success of this festival is a testament to the collective efforts of many stakeholders, a great ensemble working in perfect rhythm. This includes the Ministry of Education, Kessha, and the diligent Nyeri County Music Festival Organising Committee. All have worked with tireless passion to ensure the 2026 festival takes flight. My heartfelt thanks to every individual who has contributed to the harmonious triumph of this festival,” he said.
As the festival season gathers momentum, participants, trainers, and adjudicators remain optimistic that despite the challenges posed by school unrest, the 2026 Kenya Music Festival will continue to nurture talent, creativity, and cultural expression among learners across the
Several distinguished drama and music practitioners have recently earned promotions within the Ministry of Education.
Among those promoted are Mr George Atsiaya, a music Teacher at Alliance High School. Then there is Mr Fredrick Okwacho, the former Eastern Region drama secretary and an award-winning director associated with Kangaru School. Equally promoted was Ms Jane Kaimuri, a renowned dance choreographer from Meru County.
The three have joined the Department of Quality Assurance, where they are expected to contribute significantly to curriculum implementation and co-curricular development.
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