Echoes of War: The Ruto Regime’s Collapse Is No Longer a Theory—It’s Reality
Here is a compelling opinion article inspired by Lee Makwiny’s commentary.
In a moment that will be etched in Kenya’s political memory, Butere Girls High School did not just walk onto the national stage—they walked straight into the heart of a government’s fear. What unfolded during the Nakuru Drama Festival was not merely a protest. It was a warning bell. And if President William Ruto and his allies are still listening, it may already be too late.
The regime’s desperate attempt to silence a high school play titled Echos of War—written by former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala—has laid bare a truth long whispered: the Ruto government fears the youth, fears expression, and most of all, fears accountability.
According to political analyst Lee Makwiny, the panic within State House was triggered not by guns or riots—but by a script. A school play about broken promises, police brutality, and patronage politics shook the highest offices of the land. What kind of leadership feels threatened by teenagers performing on a stage?
Butere Girls arrived to thunderous support, only to be met with state harassment, censorship, and armed police officers. The media was locked out. The audience silenced. The girls were told to perform in an empty hall. But they refused to be silenced. Instead, they stood proud, sang the national anthem, observed a moment of silence, and walked off in tears. One girl, brave beyond her years, addressed the nation:
“The only play we have for our country Kenya is the national anthem we just sang.”
That wasn’t just defiance—it was revolution in its purest form.
This is not a government in control. This is a regime haunted by its own failures. It fears the youth because it knows the youth are awake. These are the Gen Zs who marched during the Finance Bill protests. These are the same students who will, in 2027, vote for the very first time.
As Makwiny rightfully notes, the government’s brutal overreaction only amplified the message of the play. Had they allowed the performance, perhaps it would have gone unnoticed. But in trying to bury it, they broadcast it to the nation. Millions who had never heard of Echos of War have now watched it. The message has been delivered—not from a stage, but from the heart of a wounded nation.
The Ruto government, according to Makwiny, has made three fatal errors:
- Criminalizing dissent among minors – Sending police to intimidate schoolgirls shows a regime that has lost all moral authority.
- Radicalizing the youth through suppression – These young citizens are now more politically aware, angry, and determined than ever.
- Sending a message of fear to other schools – But the backlash has backfired. The public has seen through the propaganda, and schools across the country are watching closely.
If the government cannot tolerate a simple drama festival without resorting to intimidation, how will it survive the tidal wave of youth-led dissent in the years to come?
A government that wages war against its children is already collapsing from within. The Ruto government collapse is no longer theoretical—it’s visible, it’s active, and it’s accelerating.
Makwinny closes with the ultimate warning: “The power of the people is always greater than the people in power.” And now, the people are not just marching—they’re thinking, performing, creating—and voting.
Time is ticking, Mr. President. The stage is no longer yours.
In Other News: Echoes of War: What Made Malala’s Butere School Play So Controversial?
Echoes of War: The Ruto Regime’s Collapse Is No Longer a Theory—It’s Reality
