Denied Justice: Rashid Echesa Struggle for Medical Treatment and Fair Trial
Former sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Mohammed Echesa has been denied police bond despite the medical report from the doctor indicating he needs urgent medical attention.
According to the doctor’s medical report dated March 29, 2024, it indicates that Rashid was taken to hospital on the afternoon of March 26, this year and upon examination, it revealed a serious condition where he was put under medication.
Rashid was immediately commenced with medication and upon review, on the following day, he was improving well and was advised to go on with the final medication on Thursday where he did not show up.
According to that medical report which is signed by the microbiologist Professor Chunge indicates that Rashid is in real danger of his health deteriorating and urgent treatment is advised.
His lawyers Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta sought that report, providing it to the Officer Commanding Muthaiga Police Station seeking his release on police bail for treatment or the government take him to the hospital.
Their trial for his release has become futile after the junior officers who accompanied Rashid to the DCI Headquarters along Kiambu Road for interrogation said they have to ask their seniors for the way forward,
“The medical doctor has indicated clearly that our client is in danger and needs urgent medical attention. We have served the OCS at Muthaiga Police Station with the documents which are very serious,” reiterated Omari.
Rashid was taken to the DCI Headquarters this afternoon for interrogation accompanied by his lawyers in the matter where he is alleged to have obtained Sh 240 million from Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa.
According to Mr Omari, the interrogation did not take place despite Echesa appearing before the panel of six detectives after developing difficulty in breathing and fever,
“The interrogation failed after our client developed difficulty in breathing and could not speak. They witnessed by themselves sweating profusely and rather than taking him to the hospital they took him back in police custody to consult their seniors,” he said.
Accompanying the lawyers, is Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale who was ready to take Rashid to the hospital jointly with his family members.
Khalwale expressed his disappointment to the government citing that everybody has the right to life as per the constitution and the doctor indicated clearly that Rashid is in danger if he lacks urgent medical attention,
“What if he dies in police custody, will they be liable? Rashid is a well known person who is not a flight risk and his place of abode is known,” he stated.
Ombeta who is teaming up with Omari for defence said that Rashid is still innocent until proven guilty and they want to know the reasons why he is denied bond,
“Has he tried to abscond, interfering with the investigation or trying to escape? He has not done any of the above but they are still holding him denying him his fundamental rights,” stated Ombeta.
Ombeta insisted that the Sh 240 million claimed to have been obtained by their client needs an explanation and the governor must be investigated,
“We want to know first how the alleged obtained money was acquired and how it was given out and why,” he said.
The former sports CS is alleged to have extorted from Mr Barasa a sum of Sh 240 million which was demanded with menaces.
