Former Sports Cabinet Secretary and Kenya Water Towers Agency (KWTA) chairman Rashid Echesa has broken silence following his arrest and release from custody in an investigation into claims of extortion.
The former CS while addressing his supporters accused President William Ruto’s close aide Farouk Kibet of orchestrating his recent arrest and troubles.
Echesa was speaking in Kakamega on April 12, 2024, during a prayer day following his discharge from hospital where he had been admitted after falling sick while in custody.
The KWTA chairman went on to accuse Farouk of helping Kakamega governor Fernandes Barasa in the investigation which in turn saw him being put behind bars.
Echesa had been arrested over allegations of obtaining money by false pretense, cyber bullying, and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Echesa Calls Out Kibet
“Barasa has neither the power nor the capacity to arrest me and put me behind bars. The person who helped Fernandes Barasa in my arrest is my friend, with whom we both campaigned for President William Ruto in the last election for votes, and his name is Farouk Kibet,” he said.
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The former CS proceeded to warn Farouk against misusing his power and influence due to his close ties with the head of state.
Echesa further cautioned President Ruto’s right hand man against mistreating him, reminding him of their past alliance, shared history and loyalty during the presidential campaigns.
“I want to tell you, my brother Farouk Kibet, the president has given you a significant role in his office, please do not use the authority the president has given you to mistreat me. I was one of those who stood by you when we were campaigning for the president,” he added.
According to Echesa, Kibet didn’t have a longstanding history with the Kakamega governor as compared to him.
He further claimed that the two had joined ties due to aligning interests within the county.
Nonetheless, urged Kibet not to forget “his friends” whom they campaigned together.
Echesa went on to narrate how Barasa stripped him naked and took videos as he pleaded for his life.
Also Read: Governor Fernandes Barasa and Khalwale Clash at Funeral in Kakamega
The former CS went on to remind the governor of how he helped him land a job in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime, lamenting that he had now turned against him.
KWTA Chairman Arrest
Echesa was on March 27, 2024, booked at the Muthaiga Police Station after he presented himself at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters.
It was alleged that the former CS with others obtained money by false pretense in an extortion racket targeting Governor Barasa.
He had on March 18th prior to his arrest recorded a statement at Central Police Station claiming that he was abducted by unknown persons.
Echesa claimed that the abductors allegedly tortured him warning him against interfering with the leadership of Kakamega County.
Earlier, two different videos circulating on social media showed a man resembling the former CS handcuffed and pleading for his life.
In the videos seen by The Kenya Times, the first showed a man seated in a forest while blindfolded and with his hands and legs tied.
Another video of a man resembling Echesa on the other hand surfaced online showing him in the boot of a car talking to another person while handcuffed.
