NAIROBI, Kenya — Cleophas Malala, the playwright behind the headline-grabbing production Echoes of War, has announced that the play will finally be performed—this time by adults, and for the general public.
Malala, recently released from police custody, made the revelation on Thursday, April 10, saying the new public staging aims to clear the air around the piece’s message.
“We will choose the best actors in Kenya and invite the public to watch this play so that they can clearly understand its message,” he said, noting that adults don’t need official permission to perform the play.
He did not, however, disclose when or where this long-anticipated staging will happen.
Originally written for students at Butere Girls High School to perform at this year’s National Drama Festivals, Echoes of War was abruptly banned from the stage.
Set in the fictional Royal Velvet Emirates, the play weaves a tense narrative about a society on the edge—torn between clinging to cultural tradition and embracing tech-fueled innovation.
It’s fictional, sure. But many saw it as a thinly veiled critique of Kenya’s current political climate, which might explain why it ruffled so many feathers in high places.
‘ECHOES OF WAR’ IS ABOUT TO GET LOUDCleophas Malala confirms the play will be staged by adults and presented to the public. Is this a show you’d pay to watch?
The play tackles issues of governance, youth disillusionment, and generational power struggles—topics that feel all too familiar to anyone following the country’s recent headlines.
Malala’s arrest and detention at Eldama Ravine Police Station only added fuel to the fire. Speculation swirled that the play’s content had triggered a clampdown from unnamed government officials. While police offered no formal charges, the optics spoke volumes.
The drama didn’t stop with the script. On Thursday morning, tensions boiled over when Butere Girls students stormed out of the drama festival venue in Nakuru, reportedly frustrated by subpar stage conditions and a lack of support from officials.
Cleo Malala: William Ruto is the one fighting me and Butere Girls. I want to assure him that Kenyans will perform “Echoes of War” at a public event, and there’s nothing he can do about it.
Things escalated quickly outside Melvin Johns Hall Academy. As the students addressed the media, police allegedly fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd—a move that’s been widely criticized on social media.
Meanwhile, members of the press and the public were barred from entering the venue, amplifying accusations of censorship and a lack of transparency. Malala insists the public staging will fix that by “letting Kenyans judge the play for themselves.”
What Happens Next?
Though logistical details remain unclear, Malala’s pledge to bring Echoes of War to the public stage signals a bold next act—not just for the playwright but for Kenya’s artistic community at large.
Will the adult version of Echoes escape the same scrutiny? Will its message resonate even louder outside the classroom? And perhaps most critically: can art still hold a mirror to power without being silenced?
One thing’s certain—the curtain may have dropped on Echoes of War at the high school drama festivals, but the real performance is just getting started.
