In theatres: Stage play shines light on economic injustice in Kenya

After lighting up the stage at Mombasa’s Little Theatre Club, the play now heads to Nairobi, where it is set to be performed at the Alliance Francaise on 15th and 16th August.

“The story is woven with mystery and music—such a perfect representation of Kenyan art,” said the club’s secretary following the performance, which ended with a standing ovation.

Powered by a Ksh.1 million grant from the French Embassy in Kenya and Creation Africa, the crew is on a national tour in Kenya.

Big Boys of Shibale follows the lives of four friends navigating life in Shibale town, reeling from the collapse of the Mumias Sugar Factory.  

The play fuses contemporary storytelling with traditional elements to the struggle for survival of the young generation in forgotten corners of Kenya.

It paints a picture of a once vibrant town on Bungoma-Kakamega highway with a stable economy and highly dependent on Mumias sugar factory. From managers to cane cutters and business people who provided services.

But with the collapse of the factory, there is a sudden cash crunch and the economy goes on a nose dive.

Four notable young men, Lalo Korongo, Juma Ngangari, Kevo bright and Saleh Chonjo, have to put away their differences to form what came to be known as the big boys syndicate an outfit that controlled all business aspects legal and illegal, in the new Shibale.

However, greed and betrayal see this solid outfit turn into a source of pain and suffering to the Shibale residents.

According to the playwright and director Mark Wabwire, Shibale represents the society in the current Kenya, where economic injustice has made the population vulnerable and the youth have lost hope. Even as the youth try to innovate their way out of poverty, human nature and greed are still at play.

The production's patron, Advice Mundalo says the play brings out the cry of the youthful population through art - which is a mirror of society.

The play has previously been staged at the Kenya National Theatre, the Kampala International Theatre Festival and the Kenya International Theatre Festival.