Former Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Sports Rachid Echesa has allegedly fallen ill while in police custody, a day after his arrest.
According to a statement released by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale on Friday, March 29, Echesa fell sick during police interrogation and is yet to receive medical care.
Khalwale further noted that he spent the afternoon at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters advocating for Echesa’s release, to take him to the hospital.
"I am the Kakakmega Senator and the Government Majority whip. I come here on the capacity given to me by Kakamega County to ask the National Government to release Rashid to me," Khalwale stated.
"If they want him we will bring him back. Rashid is not a flight risk as he serves at the pleasure of the President."
The legislator further warned the Inspector General against holding a sick person in custody, citing the right to life as seen in the Kenyan Constitution.
"Under the Constitution of Kenya, there is the right to life and he cannot deny any Kenyan that right," the Senator explained.
The Senator further proceeded to the Muthaiga police station with the same aim, however, he failed at his attempts.
“I have spent the whole of this afternoon at DCI Headquarters in Nairobi and later at the Muthaiga Police Station trying to secure the release of Rashid Echesa. I was to take him to hospital. The former CS is visibly unwell,” Khalwale noted.
Khalwale has however not revealed many details regarding the former CS’s health, nor if or when he will be released for treatment.
Echesa was arrested on Thursday evening for allegedly being involved with the extortion ring targeting Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa. He was arrested at his house and interrogated at the Muthaiga Police Station.
"We have not been told the amount that was involved in these allegations. There is no complainant and if you look at the circumstances, Echesa was the initial person to file a formal complaint," His lawyer Danstan Omari stated.
