Malala: Theatre should communicate societal issues, not please leaders
By Faith Lagat, June 5, 2026Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has defended theatre as a tool for reflecting societal issues, urging Kenyans to critically engage with its messages rather than viewing it as a platform for political approval.
Malala, who wrote and directed the play Echoes of War performed by Butere Girls High School, criticised drama festival officials for what he termed selective approval of performances.
“We do not do theatre to please William Ruto. We do not do theatre to please C.S. Ogamba. We do theatre to disseminate relevant information to society,” Malala stated.
He added that judging plays based on the “happiness or anger of the president” means society has “lost the script.” He further said, “If you don’t like the reflection, you don’t break the mirror. You change the realities.”
Theatre, he said, should mirror social realities and push for reflection on issues affecting young people and society at large.
Themes of ‘Echoes of War’ and youth behaviour
The play Echoes of War explores youth disillusionment within a fictional setting and draws conceptual reference from political tensions following the 2017 elections. It highlights themes of violence, exclusion, and adult negligence.
Malala said students often mirror behaviour observed in wider society.
“These students emulate exactly what they see in their parents, their teachers, generally in adults… The current leadership and even the previous leadership must be blamed,” he said.
He also pointed to incidents where government responds to protests involving destruction of property, noting that such patterns influence how young people express grievances when their voices are not heard in school environments.
The production faced opposition during the 2025 Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Music Festival in Nakuru, where students from Butere Girls High School withdrew from performance activities following disruptions. Reports indicated complaints over rehearsal conditions, staging arrangements, and security presence.
Calls for artistic freedom and accountability
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International Kenya, condemned the handling of the festival, describing it as a violation of constitutional freedoms of expression and cultural participation.
The group called for investigations into the conduct of security officers and protection of learners’ artistic rights under national and international frameworks.
President William Ruto, speaking in Elgeyo Marakwet in April 2025, cautioned against what he termed influencing young people negatively, while emphasising the need to protect learners and support their development in education and the arts.
Malala maintained that theatre does not provide direct solutions but encourages society to derive meaning from its messages. He called for broader reflection on leadership, accountability, and the environment in which young people are raised, saying these factors influence behaviour in schools and society.