Cleophas Malala's 2018 play 'It Is Well' drew parallels to the Utumishi Girls Academy fire

An eight-year-old school play titled 'It Is Well,' written by former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala, has gained attention due to its striking similarities to the recent Utumishi Girls Academy fire. The play, which was performed by Butere Girls High School in 2018, depicted a girls' school sponsored by security forces, a deadly dormitory fire, and students trapped by grilled windows. The Utumishi Girls Academy, where 16 learners died, is sponsored by the National Police Service and primarily admits children of police officers. Malala stated that the play was inspired by social divisions observed in society and aimed to use theatre to warn communities about potential dangers. He explained that 'It Is Well' explored the relationship between civilians and security forces, with a central scene showing a fire engulfing a girls' school, trapping students in a dormitory with grilled windows. Malala, who has written 83 plays, said his creative process often focuses on anticipating future challenges and that he intentionally chose a school associated with disciplined forces to highlight societal conflicts. He also noted that the play addressed issues like social segregation and the dangers of grilled windows in dormitories, as well as the failure of authorities to intervene in conflicts despite being aware of them. Malala expressed regret that the play's prophetic insights were not appreciated as content that could bring about societal change and criticized the censorship of school p