Malala Argues Butere Girls' Echoes Of War Play Is Not Incitement
Malala broke his silence on Thursday, April 10, after he was detained at Eldama Ravine Police Station for over eight hours
Marvin Chege 
Former Kakamega senator and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General, Cleophas Malala, has dismissed claims that the controversial Butere Girls' drama Echoes of War is aimed at incitement against President William Ruto's government.
Malala broke his silence on Thursday, April 10, after he was detained at Eldama Ravine Police Station for over eight hours, having been taken into police custody on Wednesday evening, April 9.
Speaking after the chaotic scenes at Kirobon Girls Secondary School, where Butere Girls High School students were rehearsing for the play "Echoes of War" ahead of the 63rd National Drama Festival, Malala, the play's playwright, insisted that the contents of the script had nothing to do with incitement.
According to him, the play was created to expose the rot in society, countering politicians' claims that the script by the former insider of the state was another means of mobilizing the masses against the Kenya Kwanza government.
Collage of Cleophas Malala in a dramatic standoff in Rongai, Nakuru County with police on April 9, 2025. /CITIZEN DIGITAL
"It is a play that talks about the people and is out to expose the plight of the young people. The young people here, the Gen Zs, are demanding good governance, demanding universal healthcare, accountability, among other things," Malala told Spice FM via phone.
Adding "This is just a play and has nothing to do with incitement. It is artistically created to expose the rot in our society."
Malala further voiced his shock over the government’s reaction, slamming the use of police as a clear attempt to silence free speech and expression.
"We are very disappointed by how the government is handling this matter. I empathise with the students of Butere Girls who had given themselves to nurture their talents and expose the evil deeds of this country," Malala continued.
The former Senator condemned the government for ordering police to intimidate both students and the public in Nakuru. ''Drama festivals being performed under different themes have been there for a long time. It is quite unfortunate for the State to victimise young souls," Malala insisted.
The former lawmaker shared that since his arrest on Wednesday night, no official charges had been filed against him. He also noted that even the top brass of Nakuru police hadn’t informed him of the reason for his detention.
DAP-Kenya Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, reacting after police had tear-gassed Butere Girls students who declined to perform due to the heavy police presence, said he and a team of lawyers would pursue legal action over the incident.
Wamalwa warned that the government’s handling of the situation was a dangerous step toward dictatorship, where free speech is under threat.
KANU Chairman and former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi condemned the events that culminated in Malala's arrest, writing on X that "Last night, Kenya witnessed yet another disturbing display of state repression as security agencies attempted to obstruct the staging of Echoes of War by Butere Girls High School today at the 2025 National Drama and Film Festival through violent intimidation of the playwright, Hon. Cleophas Malala, in Rongai, Nakuru County."
Moi praised the play as a sharp, reflective satire on the breakdown of social services and pointed to it as another example in Kenya’s long history of censorship in school drama.
He referenced the controversial 2013 ban of Shackles of Doom, another play written by Malala and staged by Butere Girls High School. "It must not be lost on Kenyans that this play was banned from proceeding to the national levels, and it took judicial intervention to ensure its performance."
"This act of censorship evokes the 2013 ban of ‘Shackles of Doom, ’ also staged by the same institution and scripted by Hon. Malala," he added.
Students marching at Melvin Jones Academy on April 10, 2025. /X
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