Echesa transferred to Nairobi for grilling over Matungu polls

Former sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa was on Saturday moved to Nairobi where he will be grilled by detectives from the DCI.

Echesa who is an ally of Deputy President William Ruto spent Friday night at Kakamega police cells after he was captured on video slapping an electoral official in the March 4 Matungu constituency by-election.

Officials said he had resisted being moved to Nairobi but was removed from his cells by force and escorted by at least three cars.

He told police he was not ready to be moved to Nairobi as planned prompting brief deployment of anti riot police at the station.

Police said DCI has other cases they plan to consolidate with the one of Matungu before his arraignment on Monday.

It is not the first time Echesa is being arrested and prosecuted.

He is facing other charges of fake arms deal in Nairobi.

Western regional police boss Peris Muthoni said Echesa will be processed in Nairobi.

“The DCI is handling the matter and they have moved him to Nairobi for further grilling,” she said.

Before his arrest, police had been looking for Echesa for questioning over election violence experienced in Matungu.

This was after he failed to surrender to police as directed by Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai.

A team went to his local home for him but didn’t find him. He however surrendered at about 3pm Friday in the company of his lawyer at Matungu police station.

The IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati had asked police to arrest Echesa and prosecute Echesa over the issue.  

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna too called on police to ensure  all suspected who took part in acts of violence during the by election were prosecuted.