Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has drawn an unusual but striking parallel between Cleophas Malala’s flair for scripting and the late President Mwai Kibaki’s own mastery of public speech, suggesting that the young politician’s scriptcraft style carries echoes of the statesmanship that once defined Kenya’s third president.
Speaking during the second edition of the Mwai Kibaki Memorial Lecture and Luncheon, held at Nairobi’s Serena Hotel on Friday, April 11, 2025, Kalonzo paid tribute to Kibaki’s intellect, humility, and theatrical command of language, saying it had turned Kenya’s Parliament into a stage where leadership and logic met in equal measure.
According to him, Kibaki was an exceptional leader who, like Malala, had also practised scriptwriting alongside his political career, and he noted that Malala’s style is now increasingly resembling that of Kibaki.
“As Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly then, I witnessed firsthand his oratory brilliance,” Kalonzo told the audience. “He was an orator and a scriptwriter — not quite like Malala perhaps, but very close to that. Kibaki could structure a speech like a playwright, deliberate in pace, loaded with intention, and always delivered with grace. The august House was his stage, and it was always filled to the brim.”
The comparison, meant as both tribute and observation, offered a glimpse into how Kibaki’s methodical, well-prepared communication style left a mark not only on policy but also on Kenya’s political culture.
Kalonzo explained that, like a skilled scriptwriter, Kibaki never delivered words without thought, and he mastered the art of persuasive language in the most understated but impactful ways.
He noted that before becoming president, Kibaki had already earned both national and international respect for his mastery of economic matters, with TIME magazine in 1974 naming him among the 100 global individuals with the potential to lead.
“28 years later, he took the oath of office as president,” Kalonzo noted. “I was a young man then, and he was already vice president and minister for home affairs. He had already been celebrated far beyond our borders.”
Close friend
Kalonzo shared that his personal relationship with Kibaki deepened in 2002, when, following the historic victory of the National Rainbow Coalition, he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs.
From that point onwards, he said, his bond with Kibaki grew stronger, emphasising that, unlike before, Kibaki’s leadership style became clearer to him — pragmatic, efficient, and understated, yet with a sharp mind that seldom missed a detail.
“I want to thank the organising committee for this lecture,” Kalonzo added, his voice reflective. “This is a worthy effort to preserve not just the memory of Mwai Kibaki but the ideas and leadership ideals he stood for. When we laid him to rest, it was quite an occasion, and I did not have the opportunity to say a few things. Ambassador Muthaura spoke on our behalf, but I always wished I had spoken more.”
He went on to describe April 22, 2022—the date of Kibaki’s passing—as a day permanently etched in his heart and memory, admitting he had struggled to accept that his once-close friend had died.
Kalonzo shared that, however, he was now at peace, thanks to the organising committee that had decided to set up the memorial occasion to honour Kibaki, remarking that he had never been as happy about anything as he was about this.
He added that he had first met Kibaki in 1985 when he was elected to Parliament and that this year marked the 40th anniversary of their friendship, showering further praise on Kibaki as a leader who went above and beyond for both his country and his close friend.
“I first met him in 1985 when I was elected as a Member of Parliament for Kitui North. It has been forty years since then,” he recalled.
“This month marks my own fortieth anniversary in politics, and I can say with confidence that very few public figures could match Kibaki’s dignity, depth, and devotion to public service.”
Malala’s play
Kalonzo’s remarks came in light of the renewed spotlight on former UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala, following the banning of his play ‘Echoes of War’ by Butere Girls High School from proceeding to the national drama festivals, despite the play securing a commendable third position at the regional level.
The controversy began when Malala, upon learning that the play—widely regarded as a scathing critique of government excesses—had been restricted, sought a court injunction to halt its exclusion from the national stage in Nakuru.
That moment marked the genesis of a heated public debate, drawing both backlash and admiration in equal measure, as curious Kenyans flocked to Melvin John Lion’s school in droves, eager to witness the much-discussed production.
Journalists, too, travelled in large numbers, keen to capture the unfolding story, which many critics claimed was a bold artistic portrayal of the Gen Z-led protests of June 2024.
Tensions escalated sharply on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, when students were barred from accessing their designated rehearsal hall, and Malala, who had directed the play, was arrested while attempting to gain entry into Melvin Jones Lions School in Nakuru, where the festivals were underway.
In a chaotic turn of events, tear gas canisters were lobbed to disperse both students and journalists covering the standoff, plunging the atmosphere into a cloud of panic, confusion, and emotion.
By the morning of Thursday, April 10, 2025, the students, having missed the opportunity to rehearse the previous night, were hurried onto the stage at 6 am, without the essential backdrops, props, or sound equipment. In a defiant act of protest, they took to the stage and, rather than performing the banned play, delivered a stirring rendition of the national anthem, transforming their silence into one of the festival’s most powerful and unforgettable statements.