Former Kakamega Senator and former UDA Secretary-General, Cleophas Malala, has announced that his controversial play Echoes of War will now be performed by adults.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday night, Malala revealed that the script for the play would soon be published online to give all Kenyans an opportunity to take part.

“We shall upload the script on social media so that anyone interested can download it, act it out, and post it on TikTok,” he said.

“Through this approach, we will discover talent from every corner of the country—even from marginalised areas. This is a Kenyan play and will be performed by local artists.”

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However, despite the decision to transition the play to adult performers, Malala emphasised that the students from Butere Girls High School—who were initially set to perform it at the National Drama and Film Festival—must be honoured.

“We will carry on with the play using adult actors, but we cannot forget the girls from Butere. They are heroes. A portion of the play’s proceeds must go to them, as they will go down in history,” he stated.

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Malala also defended the students following criticism he received for involving them in the play. He likened the situation to the iconic South African play Sarafina, arguing that young people have often been at the forefront of liberation movements.

“There is nothing wrong with students engaging in political themes or shaping their future through art. They are part of the journey towards change,” he added.

However, the students from Butere were unable to perform the play during the festival in Nakuru after chaos erupted and security personnel barred journalists and the public from entering Kirobon Girls High School.

In a separate interview with another media outlet, Malala explained that the idea for the play was inspired by the Gen-Z protests in June 2024.

“I started thinking about the concept immediately after the Gen-Z demonstrations. I don’t write plays based on my personal view of life. I write inspired by the events happening in our society,” he said.

“It would be wrong for anyone to claim that I am writing the play out of revenge or to push a political agenda. That’s not what I’m doing at all.”