07/07/2025
CLEOPHAS MALALA: FROM STAGE TO POLITICAL STAGE
Cleophas Malala, born in 1985, is a Kenyan politician and former dramatist whose career has swung between the arts and the highest echelons of politics. A graduate of Friends School Kamusinga and USIU, Malala first made headlines as a playwright, scripting the controversial โShackles of Doom,โ a play that tackled tribalism and was briefly banned before courts lifted the prohibition.
He entered politics in 2013 as the MCA for Mahiakalo Ward under ODM, quickly rising to become Deputy Speaker of the Kakamega County Assembly. His outspoken style led to clashes with local leaders, costing him his leadership position.
In 2017, Malala was elected Senator for Kakamega County on the Amani National Congress (ANC) ticket. In the Senate, he became Deputy Minority Leader and a vocal participant in national debates, especially on revenue sharing among counties. His tenure was marked by dramatic moments, including claims of threats to his life. He was removed from his Senate leadership post in 2021 as political tides shifted.
Malala sought the Kakamega governorโs seat in 2022 on a UDA ticket but lost, conceding defeat gracefully. In 2023, he was appointed Secretary General of UDA, only to be ousted in 2024 amid internal party wrangles tied to shifting alliances within President William Rutoโs administration.
Lately, Malala has returned to his artistic roots, scripting plays and engaging in philanthropy, suggesting that his story may still have more acts to come.
