Kaaga Girls High School’s choral verse Theatre of Dreams produced by Chief Principal Eunice Maeke won overall at the Eastern Regional Drama and Film Festival held at Mwingi Resource Centre in Kitui. The school will go to the national stage with three items: the choral verse, a Kiswahili play that came 4th overall and a cultural creative dance that came 3rd.
Theatre of Dreams written and directed by Johnson wa Nyaguthii follows the inspiring journey of Felicity a visually impaired girl who wants to chase her dreams. Despite being opposed by a cynical gatekeeper she overcomes with the help of a kind sponsor.
Other Notable Performances
Kaaga Girls also impressed with a dramatic solo verse Simu Nuksi which tells the story 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 piece produced by Joan Muchina. It tells the story of a hardworking mother toiling in a quarry to educate her daughter. Initially disappointed by her daughter’s academic performance the mother reconsiders after her daughter gains fame on TikTok, wins a Sh1 million prize and helps modernize her mother’s business with a stone crusher.
Mukuuni Boys from Tharaka-Nithi County last year’s national champions staged a play on the dangers of poor nutrition and parental negligence. It follows a child who suffers health complications due to excessive junk food consumption who recovers through improved diet and lifestyle changes and goes back to play tennis.
Kilungu Boys from Makueni County presented a drama on drug trafficking where illicit substances are transported in coffins with the help of a rogue bishop. The twists were shocking.
Tumaini Girls International from Machakos County delivered a powerful Kiswahili play Mkuki Moyoni on a broken family. It follows a resilient daughter who rises through the Wings to Fly scholarship program after her father who abandoned his duties is left blind and destitute.
Cultural and Live Broadcast Excellence
Moi Girls Marsabit known as the “Desert Queens” wowed the audience with their Borana cultural creative dance Jai Jilo Kal Jilo Llye which tells the story of life in Northern Kenya during drought and insecurity. They took first position with Mwaani Girls and Kaaga Girls coming second and third respectively.
St Joseph’s Seminary Mwingi, Kitui School and Mwaani Ilima from Makueni excelled in the live TV broadcast category. Kitui focused on visuals while Mwaani Ilima impressed with their presentation.
At the junior school level Kitengela International School Syokimau won the TV Live Broadcast category with How CBC Impacts Urban Farming a discussion on how kitchen gardening is helping urban dwellers cope with rising living costs.
“We produced the best of the best. As we head to the nationals in Nakuru we are confident,” said Nashon Omukhobero the festival director.
The regional festival was full of talent and creativity and we can’t wait for the nationals in Nakuru.
