The negative effects of betting addiction were brought out on stage at the ongoing Kenya National Drama and Film Festival (KNDFF) at Kagumo Teachers Training College, Nyeri County.
Two plays, in particular, explored the betting menace that has gripped many Kenyans who wager their hard-earned cash on games, especially teams playing in the English Premier League.
Shimo la Tewa High School from the Coast Region thrilled the audience with their play, ‘The Jackpot’, a hilarious play about the growing culture of betting in the country.
It revolves around Hawi, a school teacher, who aspires to become a billionaire through gambling, against the will of his wife, Betty and son Lucky.
Lucky, who is a footballer, is used by his father as a ‘good omen’ whenever he goes to play. Hawi tickled the audience when he complained that EPL side, Arsenal has become his hindrance to his dream of becoming a millionaire because of their habit of losing some matches which, on paper, they should win comfortably.
At one time, when he is being evicted by the landlord, he asks for a few minutes to raise Sh50,000. When the landlord wondered how he would raise huge amount of cash in a few minutes, he says he would do so when a Manchester United game ends.
At another time, he collects money from his students, saying that it was for an educational trip. He places the cash on a bet. He lost and this exposed him to the entire school.
Chakol Girls High School also had a play about betting. The play also constantly invoked EPL teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Meru School from Eastern Region took the art of invention a notch higher when they presented a play ‘Community Radio’, a production about two young people who come up with a way to communicate issues affecting pastoralist lifestyle and challenges.
Meru School plays about the importance of Community Radio during the 64th Kenya National drama and Film festival at Kagumo Teachers Training College on April 9, 2025.
Photo credit: Anthony Njagi| Nation Media Group
Written and directed by Warren Ligare and Edwin Ochieng and produced by Henry Mwendwa, the play's main conflict heightens when elders from community are uncomfortable with the community radio.
They outrightly reject the innovation until they notice that the community radio articulates, among other things, anti-cattle rustling messages.
The elders are thrilled when they see the herders listening to their community radio while looking after their cattle. The programme was valuable because it educates young herders on pastoral lifestyle and culture.
Tarasaa Senior School from Tana River County of the Coast Region also had their day on stage when they presented a cultural creative dance ‘Shule shuleni’, a Miji Kenda cultural creative dance.
Boma Senior School from the Rift Valley also thrilled the audience with their oral narrative ‘Mamluki’, a play-within-a-play. The main character, Mamluki, is not a bona fide student but is cast in a school play by the director despite all indications that he is not a student.
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.
Photo credit: Anthony Njagi| Nation Media Group
The school wins everything, only for their win to be reversed upon realization that Mamluki was not a student. It is produced by Isaac Wekesa Makokha and directed by Christabel Akhonya.
A play by St George's Girls from Nairobi Region ignited afresh the issue of bureaucracy in the issuance of identity cards and passports to people from Northern Kenya and the double standards that dog the process.
Amita Wangui of Kitengela International School, Syokimau, presented a colourful narrative, Boss Lady produced by Elizabeth Gati. Boss Lady is a story about a house help who takes advantage of her employers’ schedule to scam them online.
