Democracy for Citizens Party Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala, who stirred national debate with his controversial play ‘Echoes of War,’ has announced plans for a new, even more provocative production aimed at adult audiences.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, Malala revealed that the play will be titled ‘Who Killed Amollo?’ and is set to be staged in a commercial theatre.
Asked whether it would continue the storyline of ‘Echoes of War,’ Malala said the new play will be a completely separate story featuring adult characters, marking a shift from the previous production that sparked controversy when performed by Butere High School students.
“At some point, I will showcase ‘Echoes of War,’ which was banned previously. But now I am creating a play for adult minds, to be staged in a commercial theatre. The play is titled ‘Who Killed Amollo?’” he said.
When asked whether the “Amollo” in the title alluded to former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga, Malala avoided a direct response, saying it was simply a name like any other, and went on to make a historical reference, drawing parallels with President William Ruto’s recent appointment of Mama Ida Odinga as a UN ambassador.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 gave the widow (Pamela Mboya) a job as UNEP Representative. So, who killed Amollo?” Malala claimed.
A fact check by Kenyans.co.ke, however, revealed that Pamela Mboya, Tom Mboya’s widow, was not appointed to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1969. UNEP itself was only established in 1972, three years after Mboya’s assassination.
Pamela Mboya later had a distinguished 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 President Ruto nominated Mama Ida as Kenya’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to UNEP. The President said the appointment recognises her lifelong service, courage, and commitment to women’s education and empowerment.
In April last year, Malala’s play ‘Echoes of War’ ignited a national conversation when students from Butere Girls High School prepared to perform it. The play’s controversial themes led to Malala’s temporary detention, sparking protests from the school’s drama team, who refused to perform until he was released.
‘Echoes of War’ is a hyperbolic narrative illustrating the widening gap between generations. Set in the fictional Royal Velvet Emirates, it depicts a society on the brink of collapse due to clashes between tradition and innovation.
The play follows Mustafa, a brilliant fourth-year IT student, whose telemedicine app initially earns praise from the ruling Sultan. His fortunes, however, change when past social media posts critical of the government resurface, highlighting the tension between youth-led change and political authority.