Former Kakamega Senator and celebrated playwright Cleophas Malala has announced that his politically charged play, Echoes of War, will be enacted by an adult cast. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Malala emphasized that while adults will perform the play, the students of Butere Girls High School who were originally slated to stage it at the 2024 National Drama and Film Festival deserve recognition and a share of the spotlight.
“We are going to enact this play with an adult cast. But at the same time, we must honour the young girls of Butere Girls High School,” Malala said, adding that a portion of the play’s proceeds will go to the schoolgirls, whom he hailed as heroines.
To make Echoes of War more accessible and inclusive, Malala revealed that the script will be uploaded to social media platforms, allowing Kenyans from across the country to engage with it. “We are going to put the scripts on the social media platforms, and anybody can enact it and upload it on TikTok,” he said. He noted this move aims to tap into and showcase hidden talent even in the remotest villages while positioning the play as a national cultural project.
Malala also addressed the controversy surrounding the involvement of students in a politically themed production. Critics had questioned his decision to involve minors, but he defended the move, drawing parallels to historical movements. “I recall South Africa’s Sarafina of 1976. Students started the liberation journey. There is nothing wrong with students taking part in politics or crafting their future,” he said.
Echoes of War was inspired by the June 2024 Gen-Z protests, Malala disclosed. However, he dismissed claims that the play serves as a political tool. “I started conceptualising the idea in June, immediately after the Gen Z demonstrations. I write plays inspired by events in society, not to push personal or political agendas,” he explained.
The Butere Girls’ performance was halted amid chaos during the Nakuru festival, with the public and press being barred from the venue. Despite the setback, Malala remains committed to ensuring the story reaches the nation with the youth still at its heart.
