Ministry pushes for learner-scripted plays to unlock creativity

Students perform a choreography at the regional Kenya National Drama and Film Festival held at Dagoretti High School, Nairobi, March 19, 2026. /HANDOUT

The Ministry of Education has urged teachers and trainers to adopt learner-driven performances by allowing students to write and stage their own scripts at this year’s drama festival.

Nairobi Regional Director of Education Reuben Kipturgor said the move is aimed at identifying and nurturing talent in line with the government’s push to anchor arts as a critical career pathway under the Competency-Based Education (CBE).

He noted that overreliance on professionally written scripts limits opportunities for learners to develop their own creative abilities.

'When most scripts are written by professionals, we limit opportunities to discover and develop learners’ own creative abilities. Learners should not be confined to performing pre-written scripts; they should be given the chance to create," he said.

Kipturgor was speaking during the Nairobi region Kenya National Drama and Film Festival held at Dagoretti High School.

In his remarks on behalf of Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, he said that if learners can write creative compositions, they can also be excellent playwrights. 

He added that making the festival learner-centred would allow students to express their ideas and sharpen their artistic expressions, with teachers only playing a guiding role to refine their work to high standards.

"In doing so, we move beyond showcasing talent to actively developing it - unlocking learners’ full creative potential.”

This year’s Kenya National Drama and Film Festival is themed “Bold Storytellers, Digital Stages: Driving Kenya’s Development Through Theatre and Film.”

In line with the theme, Kipturgor called on sponsors to recognise and reward student-authored scripts through incentives such as sponsorships, prizes, or other forms of support.

He noted that strong writing skills developed in class can translate into scriptwriting under CBE.

The Kenya National Drama and Film Festival, Nairobi region chairperson Vincent Akuka welcomed the directive, saying the region would encourage and motivate learners to develop their own scripts.

For the third consecutive year, Equity Bank has maintained its role as a key sponsor of the festival, reaffirming its support for nurturing young creative minds.

Nairobi's Precious Blood Girls Riruta perform a choreography at the regional Kenya National Drama and Film Festival held at Dagoretti High School, March 19, 2026. /HANDOUT

The bank’s Head of Education Peter Ndoro said the partnership reflects its commitment to empowering youth by providing a platform to grow talent while promoting innovation and digital transformation.

As part of the collaboration, students will perform Equity sponsored genres under the sub-theme “Leveraging Technology to Make Banking a Lifestyle — From a Place You Go to Something You Do.”

The theme highlights how digital banking integrates into daily life, from paying school fees to supporting business growth and enabling cross-border trade.

“We believe in supporting talent and transforming lives. We thrive when individuals excel, and we are committed to supporting this initiative all the way to the nationals,” Ndoro said.

The festival, currently at the regional stage across the country, will culminate in the national event in Nyeri in April.