Six journalists sustained injuries on Wednesday evening as they covered the chaotic arrest of former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, the scriptwriter of the controversial Gen Z-themed Butere Girls’ play Echoes of War in Rongai, Nakuru County.
Police lobbed tear gas at the journalists, injuring Nation Media Group’s Purity Kinuthia and Citizen TV reporter Mary Ann Nyambura.
Police fire tear gas at journalists covering Butere Girls rehearsals in Nakuru
Citizen TV Camerapersons Evans Asiba and Robert Maina, as well as their KTN counterparts Peter Kimani and Kennedy Gachuhi, also sustained injuries after police physically assaulted them.
Mr Malala had earlier been barred from accessing Kirobon Girls High School, where the Butere students are spending the night before staging the play on Thursday at the ongoing National Drama Festivals in Nakuru.
Journalists tear gassed by police officers outside Kirobon Girls High School on April 9, 2025, while covering drama where former Kakamega Senator Cleopas Malala was arrested.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwang| Nation media Group
The content of the play is largely a demonstration of the young generation, commonly Gen Z, who held countrywide protests last June to protest the Finance Bill 2024.
According to Mr Malala, he arrived at Kirobon at 5:30 pm for rehearsals ahead of their performance only to find heavy security at the main gate blocking his vehicle.
Armed police officers stopped him from entering, stating that they had been instructed not to allow him to interact with the girls.
KTN Reporter Kennedy Gachuhi roughed up by a police officer outside the gate of Kirobon Girls High School.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
“As the scriptwriter of the play, I came here to check on the girls during their final rehearsals, but I was not allowed inside the school. I have been told that some officers are also inside. They said the students should not rehearse. The officers want to arrest me without a court order and they have blocked my vehicle from leaving,” he said.
Police vehicles block Cleopas Malala's car at Kirobon Girls High School in Nakuru in an attempt to arrest him on April 9, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwang| Nation media Group
According to Mr Malala, the students have also been informed that they will perform their play at 7 am on Thursday, contrary to the earlier scheduled time of 10 am.
Citizen TV Reporter Maryann Nyambura is comforted by colleagues after she was assaulted by police officers outside the gate of Kirobon Girls High School.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwang| Nation media Group
He said some cast members have not been able to access the venue and the 7 am performance time will deny them the opportunity to showcase their talents.
“I do not know what the government is afraid of, it’s just a play. The students are traumatised, and I don’t even know if they will be able to perform tomorrow. We are just here waiting. I wonder why they are politicising the whole thing. They should just follow the court order,” he said before his arrest.
Citizen TV Reporter Maryann Nyambura is comforted by colleagues after she was assaulted by police officers outside the gate of Kirobon Girls High School.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwang| Nation media Group
Last week, Echoes of War play was removed from the Western Regional winners’ gala, and the drama club was directed to send its members home by Monday, effectively halting preparations for the National Drama Festival in Nakuru.
Despite winning at the Butere sub-County level and securing third place at the Western Regional Drama Festivals, the school was dropped from the festival lineup.
Standard photographer Joseph Kipsang holds his broken camera after he was assaulted by police officers outside the gate of Kirobon Girls High School.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwang| Nation media Group
However, on April 3, the High Court directed the Butere Girls High School Principal to recall students taking part in the festival in Nakuru.
On Monday, Basic Education Secretary Julius Bitok said that the students would proceed to showcase their presentations.
Addressing the press after opening the 63rd edition of the annual Kenya school and college festivals, the PS admitted that there were some issues around the play but was quick to note that they have been resolved and the play will go on as planned.
“I don’t want us to discuss more about the issues around the play; they have been resolved, and I can assure the public that the play will go on,” he said.
