Former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala, the playwright behind the controversial Butere Girls' drama Echoes of War, has broken his silence after being detained at Eldama Ravine Police Station for over eight hours following his being taken into custody on Wednesday evening.
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 expressed shock at the government’s response, criticising the deployment of police as a blatant suppression of freedom of expression and speech.
"We are very disappointed by how the government is handling this matter. I empathise with the students of Butere Girls who had given out themselves to nurture their talents and expose the evil deeds of this country," Malala told Spice FM via phone.
Malala claimed that 15 students from the school who were scheduled to perform at the event were unaccounted for.
The former Senator lashed out at the government over its directive to send police to intimidate the students and the general 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.
Malala, once an insider of the state, insisted that the script had nothing to do with incitement as claimed by other politicians, pointing out that it was created to expose the rot in the society.
''It is a play that talks about the people and that 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 maintained.
''This is just a play and has nothing to do with incitement. It is artistically created to expose the rot in our society,'' he added.
The former lawmaker revealed that since his apprehension on Wednesday night, no formal charges had been preferred against him.
Additionally, he pointed out that not even the Nakuru police leadership had briefed him on why he was being held at the station.
DAP Kenya Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, speaking after police lobbed tear gas at students of Butere Girls who refused to go on stage over police presence, announced that together with other lawyers, they would seek legal redress over the matter.
Wamala lamented that the government's response to the situation risked plunging the country into a dictatorial era where freedom of speech was limited.
