By Prudence Minayo
Cleophas Malala is the current Kakamega County senator and a renowned playwright. He is an outspoken if not abrasive leader who is never far away from controversy. He won is seat in 2017 under the ANC party.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Education
The politician sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) at Friends School Kamusinga before proceeding to the United States International University (USIU) for a Bachelor’s Degree.
Marriage
Malala is both a father and husband. His wife was a student at Keveye Girls High School which is in the same county as his former high school.
Career
Malala is a former high school teacher and an award winning playwright. He scripted and directed a controversial play Shackles of Doom in 2003 which landed Butere girls in trouble.
The celebrated thespian took a plunge into politics and was elected MCA of Mahiakalo ward in Kakamega County in 2013. In 2017, he run for the Kakamega senatorial position which he won. He said that what helped him was that as an MCA, he was the watchdog of the people and he looked out for their welfare.
The senator has very strong views about leadership. He believes time is ripe for the old politicians to leave the scene and pave way for the younger generation. He illustrated this to the Standard using Wetangula as an example.
“I was in class two when senator Wetangula was first nominated to parliament. There comes a time when the old generation must leave the fight to the upcoming generations to finish the fight. This is the time,” he said.
The Senator is credited with the:
- Push for legislation to support the Oparanya Care Program
- Went to court after the Kenya National Examination council in 2018 nullified results of schools including Kakamega Chebuyusi Secondary. The Court ruled in his favor.
- Leads the G40 group that nurtures upcoming thespians and inspires them to script.
In 2018, he was elected minority leader in the Senate to deputise Senator James Orengo. This was after Orange Democratic Movement ouster of Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula.
Cleo Malala Super cup
This is a tournament sponsored by the senator every year in December. It began in 2018 and has been successful to date.
The tournament was first held in 2018 at the Eregi Teachers College grounds while in the second year it was at Mumias Complex Grounds.
