Silent No More: Youth Legislative Theatre in Kenya

This 32-page book, published by Helix Group and Moving Framez Africa, gives an overview of a number of legislative theatre activities carried out in Kenyan schools under the Silent No More project. The legislative theatre technique, first used by Brazilian Augusto Boal, promotes public participation in relation to service provision. The concept is similar to that of forum theatre in that it focuses on the creation of a new law. According to the book, legislative theatre is a good tool to apply when addressing issues of the constitution with youth groups since they play and learn as they address particular issues.

The Silent No More project, implemented by Moving Framez Africa, was designed to encourage youth to take action, to mobilise others and effect changes in the constitution, and to vote for young leaders who will bring about the changes they want to see. The project involved using youth legislative theatre to provide an avenue for youth to express their views on the Kenyan constitution and to discuss the way forward.

The book contains excerpts from several legislative theatre forums. During the forums, youth enact short plays that pose problems and possible solutions related to central governance issues, for example corruption, health care, and education. They discuss the plays and use them to form recommendations. For example, after a skit featuring a patient who, unable to pay for services at a government hospital, is left alone and dies, participants made the following recommendations for government: friendly medical facilities for poor citizens should be developed and government should have policies on affordable medical services for all.

In another forum, participants were asked to examine a case study about a member of parliament (MP) who tirelessly pushes for the passing of a Constituency Development Fund bill that would foster government initiatives at the constituency level. The case study reveals how once the bill was passed, the funds were manipulated to the benefit of the MP and his family. Forum participants were asked to think of a similar event from their community and develop a role play that would present a possible solution. These role plays brought up issues related to the responsibility of the media to report on corruption, civic participation and action, community dialogue, and the importance of the Human Rights Commission to advocate for the right to be served.

The book includes a summary of what youth at the forums want from their constitution. These include, but are not limited to, enhancing child protection; free secondary education; laws against discrimination based on gender, race, religion or sexual orientation; clear procedures and processes for dealing with corruption in government; regulating basic commodities like maize, flour, and sugar; job creation for youth; and allowing girls to inherit property from their parents.