Democracy for Citizens Party Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala, who ignited national discourse with his contentious play ‘Echoes of War,’ has disclosed intentions for a new, even more provocative production targeting adult audiences.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Malala disclosed that the play will be named ‘Who Killed Amollo?’ and is slated for performance at a commercial theatre.
Inquired whether it would carry forward the narrative of ‘Echoes of War,’ Malala stated the new play will be an entirely separate narrative featuring adult characters, representing a departure from the earlier production that generated controversy when staged by Butere High School students.
‘At some point, I will present ‘Echoes of War,’ which was previously banned. But now I am crafting a play for adult minds, to be performed in a commercial theatre. The play is titled ‘Who Killed Amollo?’ he said.
When questioned whether the ‘Amollo’ in the title referred to former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, Malala sidestepped a direct reply, stating it was merely a name like any other, and proceeded to make a historical reference, drawing comparisons with President William Ruto’s recent appointment of Mama Ida Odinga as a UN ambassador.
‘I want to remind Kenyans that in 1969, when Tom Mboya was assassinated, the same people who killed him later provided employment to the widow (Pamela Mboya) as UNEP Representative. So, who killed Amollo?’ Malala claimed.
A fact check, however, indicated that Pamela Mboya, Tom Mboya’s widow, was not appointed to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1969. UNEP was only established in 1972, three years following Mboya’s assassination.
Pamela Mboya subsequently had a notable career with the United Nations Development Programme and served as Kenya’s permanent representative to UN-Habitat in the 1980s.
Malala’s announcement comes days after. The President stated that the appointment acknowledges her lifelong service, courage, and dedication to women’s education and empowerment.
In April last year, Malala’s play ‘Echoes of War’ sparked a nationwide discussion when students from Butere Girls High School prepared to perform it. The play’s contentious themes resulted in Malala’s temporary detention, triggering protests from the school’s drama team, who refused to perform until his release.
‘Echoes of War’ is set in the fictional Royal Velvet Emirates, illustrating a society on the verge of collapse due to conflicts between tradition and innovation.
The play centers on Mustafa, a gifted fourth-year IT student, whose telemedicine app initially garners praise from the ruling Sultan. His circumstances, however, shift when previous social media posts critical of the government resurface, underscoring the friction between youth-driven change and political authority.