Comedian Njugush has stepped into the spotlight with a hard-hitting skit that indirectly confronts the alleged mistreatment of Butere Girls High School students during the National Drama and Film Festival held in Nakuru. His comedic take resonated strongly with many Kenyans, blending humor with social commentary to shine a light on the unfolding controversy.
The uproar began after students from Butere Girls chose to boycott their scheduled performance at the festival. Their refusal to perform was a bold statement, driven by frustrations with what they described as unfair handling and mismanagement by the event organizers.
In response to the incident, Njugush produced a creative skit that humorously mirrored the drama. The setting was a mock police station, where he portrayed an officer interrogating a group of students—played by his wife, Celestine Ndinda, and others—who had been “arrested.” With sharp satire, Njugush cleverly renamed the school “Terere Girls,” a playful twist meant to convey the message without directly naming the institution.
Throughout the skit, Njugush used metaphors and irony to criticize the powers that be. He questioned the students’ motives, asking whether they went to school to learn or to entertain, subtly pointing to the perceived censorship and pressure the girls were under. In one scene, he mockingly demanded to know if the students’ play included sections where they applauded the leader’s achievements, humorously highlighting the expectation for conformity and flattery in artistic expressions.
He didn’t hold back in referencing the scriptwriter of the play, symbolically referred to as “Simba Marara,” asking whether he had included scenes that glorified leadership—another jab at the alleged interference in the play’s content. Njugush’s delivery was layered with sarcasm as he questioned if the students dared to create a script without praising those in power, poking fun at the overreach into artistic freedom.
Kenyans flooded his social media with praise, not only for his boldness but also for his creativity. Many were particularly amused by the realistic setup of the fake police station and asked if it was located at his home. Others applauded him for using comedy as a tool for protest, seeing the skit as an example of how satire can raise awareness and push back against injustice.
The situation surrounding Butere Girls remains tense. The students’ refusal to perform has sparked widespread public debate, with many supporting their right to express themselves through their art. The skit by Njugush only added fuel to the fire, keeping the conversation alive and shifting attention back to the central issue: the freedom of expression and the role of young people in speaking truth to power.
In the aftermath of the protest, concerns have been raised regarding the whereabouts of some of the students. Reports suggest that 15 of them went missing following the incident. There are ongoing efforts to locate them and ensure their safety.
Calls for accountability have grown louder, and voices like Njugush’s continue to echo the frustrations of many who see this as more than a school drama—it’s a reflection of a system that often silences dissent through subtle coercion. As more artists and public figures join the conversation, the Butere Girls’ story remains a powerful symbol of courage, resistance, and the enduring power of performance to challenge the status quo.
