Ex-CS Rashid Echesa arrested over alleged extortion targeting Governor Barasa

Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa will spend a long weekend in police custody after he was arrested over claims of extortion targeting Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa.

Echesa, who is being detained at the Muthaiga Police Station after his arrest on Thursday afternoon, will appear in court on Tuesday after police refused to release him on bond.

His lawyer Danstan Omari said Echesa is in police custody for the alleged extortion, cybercrime bullying, and stage-managing an abduction.

The former CS, who is also the current Chairman of the Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA), was also taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Kiambu road where he was grilled for hours.

The officers said Echesa has been evading arrest and efforts to grill him over the accusations and possible prosecution.

“Hayo mambo yote hakuna ambapo tunaambiwa ni pesa ngapi alizozipata na kutoka kwa nani, hakuna mlalamishi katika hii kesi,” said lawyer Omari.

“Mawazo mengine ni kwamba yeye ndiye aliyeshtaki mara ya kwanza, lakini sasa yeye ndiye ameshtakiwa hapa. Hata akama ni Easter, kesho tutafanya application kuenda kortini aweze kuachiliwa.