Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala inside a vehicle, April 9, 2025. /SCREENGRAB
Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has hailed police officers who held him since Wednesday evening for their professionalism.
Malala was arrested outside Kirobon Girls High School in Nakuru's Rongai subcounty before who could lead Butere Girls High School students in a rehearsal of their play titled Echoes of War.
The girls were scheduled to stage the play Thursday morning at Lions Junior School in the Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Film Festival.
Speaking in Eldama Ravine after he was released, Malala said police officers had an option of harming him but did not.
"They did not harass me, we have a very disciplined police service. They had the option of beating me up in the wilderness, but they did not do that. If I say that police beat me up, I will be lying," he said.
According to Malala, the officers were following instructions from someone on the phone all through the night.
"I want to celebrate them because they had an option of finishing me up last night."
The arrested of the former UDA Secretary General started off with a stand-off with police officers led by a man he said was the Nakuru area DCIO outside Kirobon Girls High School.
The situation would later escalate after police used tear gas to disperse a group of journalists who were following the developments.
Malala insisted he had not committed any offence and demanded to be allowed to prepare the girls for their play.
Butere Girls had been banned from staging their Gen Z-themed play on the grounds that its theme critiques the government.
The court, however, lifted the ban on April 3 when Justice Wilfrida Okwany suspended any letter banning or barring the school from participating in the festival.
Malala said he was acting in accordance with the court order.
"The High Court has allowed me to direct the play. They are performing tomorrow morning. Why are you arresting men? Are you arresting me for scripting a play?" he asked the arresting officer.
"I cannot be intimidated; I will write what I want, I will think the way I want, nobody can censor me."
Come Thursday, Butere Girls refused to stage the play after they allegedly found an empty hall with no audience or public address system.
They sang the national anthem and walked out but were dispersed by police as they attempted to address the media.
The police action sparked outrage and widespread condemnation from a cross section of leaders with Chief Justice Martha Koome calling for respect of court orders.
