Echoes of War to be performed by top actors at public event- Malala

Echoes of War scriptwriter Cleophas Malala has insisted that the play will be performed by top adult actors selected from across the country, and it will be showcased during a public event.

Addressing the media following his release from police custody, Malala praised the students of Butere Girls High School for boycotting the scheduled performance of Echoes of War, a move he described as heroic.

“We will look for adult citizens who do not need anyone’s permission to act. I will come here so we can choose actors from across the country. The best actors in Kenya are going to perform this play, and we will showcase it at a public event where we will invite all Kenyans to come and see what the play is about,” he said.

Malala was arrested on Wednesday evening under unclear circumstances and transferred from Nakuru Central Police Station just hours before the students were set to perform the play.

His detention sparked national outrage, with the students, leaders, civil society and Kenyans online condemning the move as a blatant attack on freedom of expression.

“I asked what my mistake was, but they didn’t tell me any mistake. And I was told that I had been released unconditionally,” Malala said.

He cleared the regional director of education and the drama festival officials of blame, saying the play had been approved and forwarded from the sub-county level.

“I would like to say that the person behind all these actions is not the regional director of education, it’s not the drama officials, because the drama officials ensured the play was approved and forwarded from the sub-county. And I want to thank the drama committee for ensuring that these girls were given the right platform,” he added.

Malala, however, accused President William Ruto of orchestrating the censorship and intimidation.

“The person who has a problem with this play is William Ruto. And we must call him out because this is a man who fears hearing the truth,” Malala said.

He maintained that the play was not a political attack but a creative mirror to society and leadership.

“This play, Mr. President, is one that is supposed to help you as the President of the Republic of Kenya. It’s a play that teaches you how to lead. It’s a play that communicates the demands and wishes of the people of Kenya, he said.

Malala said Echoes of War highlights the struggles of young people, particularly Generation Z, whose cries for better healthcare and governance have long been ignored.

“This play highlights issues affecting young people—those who are popularly referred to as Gen Z. They want a country with universal healthcare. They work hard. It’s not right that many students go to hospitals and find them non-functional. They die. They are taken back home as bodies,” he said.

“These girls boldly tell you this, Mr. President: that healthcare must work. Whether you like it or not.”

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He added that the youth are also demanding good governance free of corruption.

The play, set in a fictional Middle Eastern kingdom called the Royal Velvet Emirates, explores the widening generational divide between the old and the young. The older generation is portrayed as rigid and untrustworthy, while the youth demand reform, respect, and inclusion. The story symbolically addresses the tension between experience and innovation, caution and boldness.

Following Malala’s arrest and heightened state interference, Butere Girls High School staged a silent protest by singing the national anthem and exiting the stage without performing the play.

The move was met with heavy-handed police response, including the reported use of tear gas on students and journalists outside the venue.

The government has come under fire for the crackdown on the school and the play. On April 3, Justice Wilfrida Okwany lifted the ban that had barred Butere Girls from participating in the festival, paving the way for their appearance despite ongoing tension.

Malala, speaking to Spice FM while still in detention, reiterated that the production is purely artistic.

“This is just a play, and it has nothing to do with name-calling or incitement. It is artistically created,” he said.

The controversy has drawn condemnation from leaders, including former Chief Justice David Maraga, Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and human rights organisations, all calling for an end to the suppression of creative voices and the use of force against minors and artists.