Drama ensued at Kiboron Girl's High School in Nakuru after former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala was blocked from accessing students of Butere Girls High School.
Malala, the scriptwriter of the play Echoes of War, was intercepted outside the school as he attempted to join the students for final rehearsals ahead of their performance on Thursday, April 10.
Speaking at the scene on Wednesday, April 9, Malala maintained that the High Court had granted him the right to direct the play.
“The High Court has allowed me to direct the play; they are performing tomorrow morning and other directors are already here. You have to respect the court order because it gives me a mandate to train the children, so you are denying the children their right.
'"If you want to arrest me then say why are you arresting me because I'm implementing the court order,” he said while talking to an officer from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
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Malala further accused President William Ruto of attempting to censor him and vowed to continue his work as mandated by the courts.
"I will not be intimidated, I will write what I want; nobody can censure me. Tell President William Ruto he will not censure me; if he is the one who has given these instructions, it won't be possible. I'll do what the court has instructed me,” he added.
In late March, the play was unexpectedly removed from the Western Regional Drama Festivals lineup following the influence of external pressure.
However, in response, a former student identified as Anifa Mango filed a petition challenging the exclusion arguing that the principal's decision infringed upon the students' rights to freedom of expression and fair administrative action.
"There is no legal authority, including State House and the Ministry of Education, that has the power to block the play, especially after professional adjudicators had approved it at multiple competition levels," Kennedy Echesa who represented Mango said.
On Thursday, April 3, Justice Fridah Okwany issued orders compelling the school's principal, Jennipher Omondi, to recall the 50 drama students and facilitate their participation in the National Drama Festivals.
