“Political Wars Must Stay Out of Schools” Outrage as CS Ogamba Slams Butere Girls for Hiring Cleophas Malala to Coach Drama Students
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a stern warning to school principals across the country to stop hiring outsiders to coach students, or face dire consequences.
This comes in the wake of a controversial incident at Butere Girls High School, where the school administration allegedly brought in former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala—who is not a registered teacher—to coach students in drama.
Speaking to the press on Friday morning, Ogamba didn’t mince his words. He condemned the decision, labeling it a direct violation of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Act of 2018 and the TSC Code of Conduct and Ethics 2015. These regulations explicitly prohibit the involvement of individuals who are not registered with the TSC—or those whose registration has been revoked—from participating in any school programme.
“This is not just about drama,” Ogamba emphasized. “It’s about maintaining professional standards, safeguarding our learners, and ensuring that schools remain institutions of learning—not political battlegrounds.”
At the center of the storm is the drama piece Echoes of War, which was set to be performed by Butere Girls at the national level of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival. According to Ogamba, Malala significantly altered the script during the regional level, introducing politically charged content that contravened the festival’s 2025 rules and regulations. The changes allegedly contained “negative themes” that were deemed inappropriate for the educational setting.
“Schools are not platforms for political mobilization,” Ogamba said firmly. “Political wars must only be fought by politicians, and outside the school environment. Anyone using students to push political agendas will face the full force of the law.”
The fallout from the incident was swift. Once the administration realized the altered script would not pass scrutiny at the national level, they opted to withdraw the play entirely and sent the learners home for the April holidays. However, the matter didn’t end there. Two separate courts—one in Kakamega and another in Kisii—intervened, ruling that Echoes of War should be performed at the national festival regardless of the Ministry’s objections.
This legal twist has only added fuel to an already heated debate, with critics questioning whether political interests are creeping too far into the school system. Ogamba expressed his dismay at the courts’ decisions but reaffirmed that the Ministry of Education would continue to uphold the law and protect the sanctity of learning institutions.
“The Ministry is committed to promoting co-curricular activities and nurturing student talent,” he clarified. “But this must be done within the rules. Principals are hereby advised to strictly follow the guidelines set by the TSC and the national co-curricular governing bodies.”
He also warned that disciplinary action would be taken against any school heads found to have flouted these directives. “This is your only warning,” Ogamba stated. “We will not tolerate any further breaches.”
The controversy surrounding Malala’s involvement has sparked widespread discussion across social media and education circles, with many calling for a clearer separation between politics and education.
As investigations continue, one thing is clear: the Ministry is drawing a hard line, and schools across Kenya are now on high alert. Will this set a precedent for stricter enforcement of educational regulations—or is this just the beginning of a larger political tug-of-war over who gets to influence Kenya’s youth?
