Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Wilson Sossion has waded into the arrest of Cleophas Malala, stating that the former senator has been undertaking illegality with his involvement in writing and directing plays for the school games.
The former senator was arrested on Wednesday, April 9, as he made his way to Kirobon High School for the rehearsals of a controversial play, Echoes of War, which he has directed and was set to be performed at the ongoing national festivals.
Speaking during a live interview on Thursday, April 10, 2025, Sossion, who offered his viewpoint as a practising teacher, maintained that Malala’s involvement in directing the play contravenes the Teachers Service Commission Act by virtue of him not being a teacher.
“The schools and college drama festivals are part of the school curriculum programs. It’s not a public thing, open to be run by anybody. The question is, who supervises those programs and trains the students? The law is clear on this. We have a law, but unfortunately, we are not a country that enforces the law.
The Teachers’ Service Commission Act 2012, Article 22, is clear. To my friend here: if you have been writing scripts and giving it to your nearest school and going to direct them and you’re not a registered teacher, then you have been practicing illegality. If Malala is not a teacher, even if he has all scripts under his name, he cannot run to the drama festival and direct our plays,” he said.
Sossion has further decried the attempts by some people to view the politician’s arrest through the prism of politics while blatantly disregarding explicit provisions of the law over the matter.
“The fact that somebody has been practising illegality does not mean it can’t be remedied now. As a country, let us not allow emotions and political hatred to take over. I think the matter has been emotionalized by people who don’t want to see the enforcement of the law,’ he said.
Sossion’s sentiments come after Malala decried attempts by the state to harass him over expressing his artistic talent.
In a video posted on his official social media account on Wednesday, April 9, Malalah said more than 50 police officers had been sent to arrest him over the play. Speaking from his car, the former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General appeared visibly shaken as he questioned the basis of the arrest.
“It has reached a point in Kenya where I am being arrested for writing a play,” he said. “You’re bringing 50 police officers. What crime have I committed? Writing? You are arresting me for writing a play?” Malala lamented.
Members of the public and politicians have condemned the development, terming it an affront to the right to social commentary and freedom of speech and expression.
Conversely, Dennis Itumbi, the Head of President’s Special Projects and Creative Economy, has affirmed the directive recently taken by the court, stating that the play will go on as scheduled after having been initially dropped before being reinstated by a court order.
“There is a special joy in taking the stage in the National Festival. Student actors and actresses work so hard to get there. It is a cut-throat competition. Butere Girls have NOT been stopped from performing their play. It will be STAGED as far as I know. Nawatakia mema,” Itumbi post on X read.