Kakamega, Kenya – Former Kakamega Senator and renowned playwright Cleophas Malala has spoken out over the controversy surrounding his late-night training sessions with Butere Girls’ High School drama team, following uproar during the National Drama Festival.
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Night Rehearsals Spark Debate
Speaking in an interview on Sunday, April 14, Malala stated that training the students at night was a necessity due to attempts to hinder their preparation.
“We had to train the girls at night because they had travelled the whole day from Butere. When they arrived at Kerobon at around 4 PM, they were locked in a room and denied rehearsal time. They were then told to perform at 6 AM the next morning,” he claimed.
Malala questioned the unusual scheduling of the performance, citing that no team in the history of Kenya’s drama festivals had ever been made to perform so early.
“In the history of drama festivals, no item has ever been performed at 6 AM. I believe this was a deliberate move to frustrate Butere Girls. What kind of leadership is this that competes with innocent students?”
Malala Denies Script Alterations
The drama piece in question, titled Echoes of War, was allegedly altered, according to Education CS Julius Ogamba. But Malala denied the claims, affirming his sole authorship and directorship of the play.
“I wrote this script and committed to minimal changes. It was vetted by nine Ministry-appointed adjudicators who praised it. If there’s any issue with the content, they should ask me, not the students,” he said.
Also Read:Sifuna Confronts Ruto Over Butere Girls Drama in Front of Raila
Government Spokesperson Raises Concerns
Malala’s explanation follows criticism by Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga, who questioned his presence in the girls’ dormitory during night hours.
“Brother Malala, what were you doing in the dormitory of female students under 18 at night without parental or official approval?” she asked in a viral video posted on Friday, April 11.
Malala did not directly address Chidzuga’s claims in the interview but maintained that his presence was strictly for training purposes.
The controversy surrounding the Butere Girls’ performance continues to spark debate on social media and among education stakeholders, with many demanding transparency from the Ministry of Education.
