This region produced the one and only Barnabas Kasigwa aka "Banny" when the region was known as Rift Valley Province. A great man who really changed things for us in this festival!
I would like to begin by mentioning one NDUGU OMWAKA. A teacher by proffession currently based at Moi Forces Academy Lanet. This guy is a true Swahili Teacher! Brilliant script writer/poet for those who did not know. A very friendly guy but can be quite the opposite when pushed to the wall. This man is one of the people that will go down in history as having revolutionized the Choral/Solo Verse category especially scripted in Swahili.
Owen Habel Lwanda is an amazing poet with talent that can not be bound! An avid blogger with the handle "Kenyan Poet". A very likeable personality who will always want to hear any critique about his items whether positive or negative. A good friend who has also become a world tourist having been in Spain to get inspiration just the other day. This guy may be very quiet in person but is very loud on stage! He has scripted winning choral as well as solo verses. In 2011 he had scripted two choral verses that were runners-up and 2nd runners-up respectively in the Secondary category nationals in Bomas! He has been affiliated with Vanessa Grant School, MOi Forces Academy Lanet, Naivasha Girls, Moi Girls Eldoret, St Joseph's Seminary Molo among others. I am aware that this guy has been scripting for one of the schools in Metro but that's a story for another day! His solo verse with Moi Girls Eldoret was Runners-up last year at the Nationals. Just goes to show you that the like of Toili and Chahasi have to watch out coz this is one poet that we should all watch out for.
Phelly Ann is a teacher by profession. An accomplished choreographer, drama lover and adjudicator with a keen eye for detail. This is a lady who has made a name in this region with her beautiful dances from Uasingishu Primary. If you want to know a true artist, even when faced with adversity, one still gives the best of their work. I saw her join a dance interest group during a national workshop with a sling on her arm. This just goes to show her love for dance. I celebrate you Phelly!
Benson Kipai is the Deputy Headmaster Naikara Primary. A brilliant choreographer also who seeks help without fear and also gives guidance when it is sought from him. A humble teacher whop has accomplished much for his tender age. I hear wedding bells can also be heard from afar in his home area. This guy made history in the festival with having a Maasai dance winning in the primary category at the nationals in 2012 and a repeat performance in 2014. Kudos Ero!
Michael Kiguta is another brilliant script writer/director who is a teacher by profession. He has worked with Silas Temba (covered in Metro) in Menengai High School. This guy brought the true "child centered approach" in Secondary with issues that affect the day to day lives of the students. He has been an adjudicator for quite some time now and is therefore a very good critique if you need to see all the flaws in your script before you actualize it. We hope to see more from you this year Kiguta!
Jeremiah Wabuti is a learned "fellow" who has been scripting plays in Nzoia Region previously. He has been producing plays with Cheptenye in Mau with powerful stories and very energetic characters. A jovial guy who is very sociable with a keen interest in the production antiques on stage.
Samuel Otieno is one of the few people i've seen on social media who call it as it is though at times tends to be abit extreme if i may say so. An adjudicator and director who has worked with Moi Girls Eldoret with a love for linear storylines. May be directing St. Patrick's Iten and Mt. Kenya University this year.
Doreen Sikolia is the Patron Loreto High School Matunda. A no nonesense disciplinarian who is very energetic if i may say so. a go-getter, hardworking and quite creative in choreography. We hope to see the students execute dance in your way mwalimu!
Sylvester & Maina are the duo that brought a very beautiful Kalenjin dance in Nyeri 2014 with Kapkenda Girls. The dance was very graceful with a beautiful story of a girl from the Kalenjin Community who fell inlove with a luo fisherman. The parents wanted to hear non of this and told her she has to marry a kalenjin sportsman who had won accolades internationaly. When her father fell ill and needed blood tranfusion, the only person who was a universal donor was the luo man that he had rejected. Quite a nice twist in the story. Anyway, I digress. I loved the dance. They have worked with Tambach TTC, Moi Girls Eldoret, Sambirir Girls and Kapkenda Girls. We hope to see the beautiful Kalenjin Dance this year guys.
Finlay Nashio Roy & Erick Odhiera are quite the flamboyant duo in their productions and have tried in their hands and brains in more than one genre of the festival namely Play, Modern Dance and Narrative. This is at the Primary and Secondary level of the festival. They have worked with Hill School Eldoret (Primary & Secondary) and St. Mary's Tachasis Girls. All the best guys.
Otanga Ngarisha who has been in Nzoia Region traditionally is now directing here. Has had stints with Moi Girls Eldoret and Kapsabet Boys. He has brought different styles of production and delivery of lines in play. Ngarisha is surely set to bring some much needed competition in this region.
Bobby Otieno & Bernard Ng'ang'a may not be very new to the festival. I have know Bobby as a brilliant Director especially Choral Verses. He has won quite a couple of times especially in Nairobi Zone Colleges Drama Festivals. The duo is said to be directing the play at Loreto Convent Matunda and Chebisaas Respectively. Hope to see you on the National Program sirs.
Cas Obiero is very quiet unless seated with friends that he's comfortable making noise with. Was with Drys Girls last year and i Hear he had moved to Kisii. Will confirm if he's in Kisii School and do that story. And just incase you did not know, he's a lawyer by profession! A good story teller in his script and quite creative in his scenic designs!
I HAVE NOT INCLUDED LILIAN MADIGO & SILAS TEMBA as i already covered them in the Metro treatise!
I will however also mention MR. SULEIMAN of Kipkaren Primary and SAMMY OMBIMA of Carol Academy who's contribution in the festival can not go unmentioned.
I will end this treatise with recognizing the young, energetic success driven young directors in this region. The likes of Yanga wa Yanga, Benjamin Okila, Janzen Bett, Wicky Kaon, Kevin Mbayagi, Melius Oscar & Evans Mwavali.
NB: I have heard that the likes of Elisha Otieno (covered in Metro), David Mido & Dan Najoli (covered in Central), Chris Wangalwa (to be covered in Lake) and Dickson Omari are in this region.
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