What happens when the law protects the powerful more than the innocent? That’s the question at the heart of The Last Confession, the latest production by Igiza Arts. Written by Martin Abuya and produced by Wreiner Arnold Mandu, the courtroom drama opens at the Kenya National Theatre on November 1st and 2nd, inviting audiences to confront the uneasy relationship between truth, power, and morality.
In The Last Confession, a birthday celebration turns into a reckoning when a Supreme Court judge, on the eve of his 70th birthday, is confronted with his own past. A prosecutor arrives with evidence from a decades-old murder case, and what was meant to be a night of joy unravels into confession and chaos. As family ties loosen and long-buried secrets rise to the surface, justice ceases to be an abstract ideal and becomes personal.
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That reflection feels particularly urgent in Kenya today. The country has witnessed countless moments where privilege has shaped the outcome of justice from the long-running Anglo Leasing and Goldenberg scandals that left high-ranking officials largely unpunished, to more recent public frustration over road accident cases and land disputes where ordinary citizens have faced swift conviction while powerful figures walk free. The play’s premise resonates deeply with such realities, offering theatre as a mirror for uncomfortable truths.
“The way our justice system is set up, there’s a different kind of justice for rich people and poor people,” says playwright Martin Abuya. ‘For instance, when the current regime got into power, so many high-profile cases of high profile Govt officials were dropped by the office of the public prosecutor’ he adds.
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Known for its socially conscious productions like Threads of Trust, Severed Justice, and The Waiting Room, Igiza Arts has long used performance as a space to dissect societal fractures. The Last Confession continues this tradition, blending humor, suspense, and introspection to ask what accountability means in a world where power often writes its own rules. Earlier this year, the company was named Theatre Company of the Year at the Kenya Theatre Awards — a testament to its daring storytelling and commitment to nurturing new talent.
The ensemble cast features some of Kenya’s most compelling performers including Linda Kamuri, Edna Kariuki, Jeff Obonyo, Faith Syekei, Harold Kerry, Lydia Mamati, Lisa Odhiambi, Justin Mwanzia, Darwin Wanjiru, Milkah Wangui, Tracy Kajuju, and Alfan Ngari each bringing a raw emotional edge to this layered script. The actors have also previously appeared in Igiza Arts productions like Threads of Trust, Flight 1963, The Waiting Room, The Miser, Severed Justice, and The Anointed Cartel.
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More than just a play, The Last Confession is an invitation to examine how justice, guilt, and forgiveness intersect in public and private life.
‘The audience should expect a playful, humorous and enlightening experience about the impact of the judicial system’ says Martin. ‘So many things in Kenya and other African countries are still the way they are because justice is compromised’ he adds.
The Last Confession will be showing at the Kenya National Theatre on the 1st and 2nd of November at 3pm and 6pm on both days.
Performances take place at the Kenya National Theatre on November 1st and 2nd, with shows at 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM both days.
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