It has emerged that majority of the police officers who harassed Cleophas Malala, members of the public and journalists covering the Kenya Drama Festivals in Nakuru were deployed from Nairobi and other jurisdictions.
An investigation by the Nation has found that officers who lobbed tear gas and injured six journalists on Wednesday evening outside Kirobon Girls High School, the venue of rehearsals of the play "Echoes of War" by Butere Girls High School, came from Nairobi and Kiambu counties.
Interviews with Nakuru-based officers and journalists who were tear gassed that evening indicate that the security agents appeared bent on sabotaging the staging of the play.
“Whenever we have such operations, we are always briefed on time. I was watching news on Wednesday night only to see new faces among those that had blocked Malala from accessing Kiboron Girls High School,” a Nakuru-based officer told Nation on condition of anonymity.
The officer added: “Interestingly, some of the officers who were in that operation are from Nairobi and Kiambu.”
'I knew something was not right'
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
Another local police officer said he learnt about the clash with Malala and journalists from the news.
“We even share the details of what is taking place in a WhatsApp group to keep the other officers updated. That did not happen this time...I knew something was not right as I watched the news at 9pm.”
However, some of the officers in the contingent were from Njoro Town, located 17 kilometres from Kiboron Girls High School.
Nakuru-based journalists also corroborate what local police say, noting that they saw unfamiliar faces during the Wednesday night confrontation.
"We know most of the local officers. Those who threw tear gas at us were new. I only recognised the county head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)," one of the journalists said.
On questioning why they were being tear gassed, the officers curtly responded that they were acting on orders from above.
Some of the police officers who were camped outside the gate of Kirobon Girls High School, Nakuru, on April 9, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
National Police Service (NPS) spokesman Michael Muchiri had, by press time, not responded to Nation ’s queries on whether officers were deployed from elsewhere.
Later, he issued a statement condemning the attack on journalists. He said that investigations had began and action will be taken against police officers found to have committed any crime.
The play revolves around a country recovering from civil war, with young citizens at the forefront of rebuilding efforts. It also critiques the role of digital spaces in governance and the power of the youth in shaping societal change.
Students under tight police guard
Come Thursday morning, students of Butere Girls arrived at the Melvin Jones Academy in Nakuru under tight police guard. They, however, declined to perform citing frustration.
“They said it was impractical to stage the play under the circumstances,” said Ken Echesa, Malala’s lawyer.
The students then walked out of the hall and boarded their school bus. They were cheered on by members of the public and students from other schools.
Public rallies behind Butere Girls students as they exit Drama Festival without performing
Agitated police officers lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse a crowd of locals that was opposed to the treatment accorded to the students.
Nation has also learnt that police officers were given express orders to escort their school bus all the way to Butere Girls High School in Kakamega.
"We received orders through our commanders to hand over the bus to colleagues from other stations along the way until the students arrive in Butere," revealed a police officer.
