Rashid Echesa: Lawyer Cliff Ombeta's Conclusion Shocks Court

Lawyer Cliff Ombetta claimed on Tuesday, March 9 that Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa was only adjusting the facemask of the IEBC official to its proper position.

Ombeta in court denied that Echesa slapped the electoral official during the Matungu by-elections as alleged in the charge sheet.

During the hearing, Ombeta and fellow defense lawyer Evans Ondieki questioned an affidavit sworn by investigating officers seeking to detain Echesa for seven days, stating that it did not fully disclose what the officer was investigating.

They also highlighted their concerns with the rights and liberties of an accused person.

On his part, the officer told the court that Echesa was a notorious offender who had several cases pending in court.

After hearing both arguments, Kiambu chief magistrate Patricia Gichohi voted to release Echesa on a Ksh1 million cash bail or a surety bond of Ksh1 million with the mention of the case slated for April 9, 2021.

Echesa was on Monday, March 8 forced to spend another night in police custody, pending a ruling on his application made on his release on bail.

He was apprehended in Mumias town on Friday, March 5, hours after the Inspector General of Police issued an order to have him immediately arrested for assaulting the official on Thursday, March 4. The public outrage his actions drew forced police to launch a search for him.

“The IG has directed Hon. Rashid Echesa who is on the run after assaulting an election official to surrender to the nearest Police Station by 1.00 pm this afternoon otherwise he will be treated as an armed and dangerous criminal,” read the statement issued on Friday.

In a video that went viral on social media, the IEBC official was in a heated argument with Echesa who had alleged that agents affiliated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party were barred from accessing the polling station.