Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has failed to appear in court for the second time for directions in the Sh39 billion arms case.
Echesa's Advocate Kiraithe Wandugi told the court that the accused is sick and has been admitted to the hospital since last week.
He told Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina that on Tuesday, Echesa underwent a medical procedure and needs to recuperate before appearing in court.
Wandugi presented a medical report to the court to show the same.
Echesa was expected to appear before the Magistrate on Wednesday after being absent on March 4.
Then, the defence counsel said he was bereaved and had travelled to Kakamega.
Still on that date, one of his co-accused Clifford Okoth Onyango was also not present for the same reason.
He however appeared in court today and was directed to deposit cash bail to secure his release pending hearing and determination of the case.
The other three are out on bail terms.
Echesa and Okoth are facing charges alongside Daniel Otieno Omondi, Kennedy Oyoo Mboya and Crispin Oduor Odipo.
The ex-CS is back in the court after the prosecutor moved to the High Court aggrieved by his acquittal in December 2021.
On February 26, Justice Kanyi Kimondo ruled in favour of the state and ordered the former CS and his co-accused to appear before the trial court.
Onyina ordered the defence to produce Echesa, who is the first accused in the case on April 25.
