Democratic Congress Party (DCP) deputy party leader Cleophas Malala has announced plans to release a new stage play later this year, titled Who Killed Amollo?, alongside a school production, Silent Patient, which is set to be performed during the national music festivals.
Speaking to a local radio station, Malala revealed he is currently working on two scripts: one for a school play and another aimed at adult theatre audiences.
“I am writing two plays. One is a school play titled Silent Patient, and the other is Who Killed Amollo?, a theatre script for adults. It is time we start asking questions,” Malala said.
Malala also drew historical parallels, citing the assassination of the late Tom Mboya in 1969 and the subsequent appointment of his widow, Pamela Mboya, as Kenya’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
He compared this to the recent appointment of Mama Ida Odinga as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
“Let me remind Kenyans that in 1969, after Tom Mboya was assassinated, his wife Pamela Mboya was appointed Kenya’s permanent representative to the United Nations. History repeats itself,” Malala said.
Last year, Malala scripted Echoes of War, a controversial school play performed by Butere Girls High School.
The production explored themes of poor governance, disregard for the rule of law, and the growing disconnect between the youth and older generations. The play drew government criticism.
Under unclear circumstances, Echoes of War was disqualified from the national drama festival. The High Court later overturned the decision and ordered the play’s reinstatement.
Despite this ruling, Malala, who wrote the script for the Butere Girls students and is a former Kakamega senator, was reportedly blocked by police from attending the students’ final rehearsals. He was later released without charge and praised the students for boycotting the performance in protest.
The play employed symbolic characters.
The Sultan, a royal ruler, embodied power and affluence, moving with commanding authority. Mama Anifa, a deeply religious woman, represented an overprotective mother burdened by her daughter’s mistakes.
The veteran playwright, who has authored dozens of stage productions, was expelled from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in August last year following internal party wrangles. Since then, he has also fallen out with the President, whom he actively campaigned for during the 2022 general elections.