(NDIMA/IFEX) – The Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) in Nyeri district, Central Province has banned a play, which was scheduled to be performed in the town of Nyeri on 23 and 24 March 2002. Police chief Elijah Shamalla called the play, by leading Kenyan playwright Wahome Mutahi, a “public nuisance.” He said he had received […]
(NDIMA/IFEX) – The Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) in Nyeri district, Central Province has banned a play, which was scheduled to be performed in the town of Nyeri on 23 and 24 March 2002.
Police chief Elijah Shamalla called the play, by leading Kenyan playwright Wahome Mutahi, a “public nuisance.” He said he had received numerous complaints from the public who requested that security officers intervene and ensure the play was not staged. He added that his officers were on high alert and would not allow anyone to enter the venues where the play was scheduled to be performed. However, Shamalla could not say what was amiss with the play that was previously staged in other parts of the country. The police chief also sent another senior officer to the venues where the play was to be staged with the message that Mutahi should not be allowed to use their hall to stage the show.
Shamalla said that if Mutahi, the author and director of the play “Ngoma cia Aka”, insisted on performing it, he would invoke the Public Order Act. Mutahi, meanwhile, insists that the play on marital infidelity must go on.
