Echesa to spend another night in detention after DCI fails to grill him

Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa failed to undergo grilling at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Headquarters, three days after his arrest over accusations of obtaining money by false pretence.

Echesa who had been brought to the DCI Headquarters under tight security for interrogation, was later returned to his confinement at the Muthaiga Police station Friday afternoon after his lawyers stated that their client needed urgent medical attention.

"Our client needs police cash bail at this moment to receive dire medical attention failure to which the worst could happen and we will hold the police accountable. Our client has not been charged until now, this is wrongful detention," said Lawyer Danstan Omari.

According to a letter presented to the DCI from a Medical Practitioner, Echesa is reportedly suffering from Pneumonia and his health is likely to deteriorate if he does not get instant medication.

"This letter is to request the DCI to authorize the OCS Muthaiga Police Station to take our client to the hospital so that his doctor can review his medical condition as had been directed in our client’s medical documents," read the letter which had a medical report attached therein.

"His continued detention will make his health deteriorate and any form of justice related to his arrest cannot possibly take precedence over his health."

Lawyer Omari defended Echesa's release on cash bail arguing that he was at no flight risk since he was a well-known Kenyan, further assuring that he would obey future court summons.

"Our client is willing to subject himself to a fair process and intends to cooperate with investigations. He is a well-known Kenyan Citizen, a former cabinet Secretary in this county and has a known place aboard," Omari stated.

"Going forward, he intends to obey any other summons and give any information as required by investigators into this matter."

The High Court had on March 1, 2024, overturned the decision by the trial magistrate to acquit Echesa in the case due to a lack of testimony from certain witnesses