Echoes of War, a play that was supposed to be performed by Butere Girls during the drama festivals in April 2025, is now a household name. Penned by former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, the play ignited debate on various topics, including playwriting as a career. TUKO.co.ke engaged comedian and seasoned scriptwriter Kevin Aswani to understand the playwriting career and how much a playwright can earn. Aswani broke down the amount of money Malala could have earned from the controversial play.
He also provided a rare inside look into the price points for various types of performance scripts—from solo verses to full-length plays. How much is paid per script? According to the actor, Malala is a renowned scriptwriter who has penned over 80 scripts. “For school plays, depending on the magnitude of the project, a single script can go for a maximum of KSh 100,000, and a minimum of KSh 60,000. This depends on the project, the client, and sometimes the bargaining power,” said Aswani. In the case of Echoes of War, a full-length play that was supposed to be performed at the Kenya Schools Drama Festival, Aswani noted that the price would likely fall within the higher bracket. “If it is a strong play meant for the nationals and with such heavy thematic content, it is fair to estimate around it KSh 100,000. “But Malala’s portfolio goes far beyond just one play. Reports indicate that the senator has authored 85 scripts throughout his career,” he said.
How much was Malala likely to pocket? According to Aswani’s estimates, if Malala sold each of his 85 scripts at the lower bound of KSh 60,000, he could have earned KSh 5.1 million. On the other hand, if the scripts fetched the upper bound of KSh 100,000, the total earnings would rise to KSh 8.5 million. Besides the script, Aswani highlighted an often-overlooked aspect of the school drama script payment. “There is some money attached to the training sessions after the script is sold. There is the first stage, then county level, and then nationals, guaranteeing additional income that comes from coaching the students through those stages,” he added. The actor explained that a scriptwriter who stays on to direct or train the students might earn significantly more throughout the festival season. For instance, if a trainer earns even KSh10,000 per stage across three stages (local, county, and national), that is an extra KSh30,000 per project, potentially adding over KSh 2.5 million to Malala’s career total if he were involved in training all 85 scripts.
Which skills are required for scriptwriting? While the financial side of scriptwriting appears lucrative, Aswani warned that the path is not an easy one. “It is a career that needs consistency. You cannot just write one script and disappear for two years. The craft evolves fast, and you need to be on top of the societal issues that drive the themes. “You need to understand the changing lifestyles and cultures of people. The society’s culture keeps shifting, so your script must reflect those dynamics,” he said. Aswani’s analysis comes at a time when artistic expression in schools is under the microscope. The Butere Girls’ performance triggered a national conversation about censorship, politics, and the role of drama in civic education. But it also cast a spotlight on the often-invisible labour behind school plays—and the significant intellectual property they represent. Education CS Julius Ogamba during a past event. What govt said about scriptwriting for schools
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba said Malala’s involvement as playwright of Butere Girls’ Echoes of War violated the school drama festival rules. Ogamba accused Malala of being a non-teacher who altered the play that raised regulatory and ethical concerns. However, according to Aswani, any professional playwright and especially some with the calibre of Malala in the sector, can write and direct school plays.
by Wycliffe Musalia Bonface Kanyamwaya
