The High Court in Nairobi has granted former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa Ksh.2 million bond for his release pending the hearing and conclusion of his case.

According to court documents seen by Citizen Digital on Wednesday, the court granted the ex-CS bail applications citing a violation of his Echesa’s rights to liberty under Article 29 of the constitution.

“The applicant be and is hereby admitted to bail pending hearing of the application inter partes…the applicant to execute a personal bond of Kshs. 2 million,” stated the documents in part.

In the application by Echesa, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) were listed as the first, second and third respondents respectively.

High Court Judge Diana Kavedza in her virtual ruling also barred the respondents from arresting or detaining the applicant who is currently undergoing medical treatment.

She however directed for the accused to be presented to the DCI offices for questioning before April 23, 2024.

“The applicant shall be escorted to the offices of the 1st respondent by his advocate as soon as he is discharged from the hospital and not later than the 22nd of April 2024 for interrogation and/or questioning and, he shall cooperate with the investigators during the entire period of investigations,” stated the judge.

“That pending hearing and determination of the application, the respondents, their servants, and/or agents including law enforcement officers are restrained and prohibited from arresting or detaining the applicant.”

The judge granted the orders sought by the applicants arguing that the submission that Echesa had been unlawfully arrested while obeying lawful summons by the DCI and that his health was also at risk could warrant the court to protect his fundamental freedoms. 

Echesa's lawyer Danstan Omari has been defending his client’s release on cash bail arguing that he was at no flight risk since he was a well-known Kenyan. He further assured that he would obey future court summons.

"Our client is willing to subject himself to a fair process and intends to cooperate with investigations. He is a well-known Kenyan Citizen, a former Cabinet Secretary in this county and has a known place aboard," Omari stated.

This came after Echesa failed to undergo grilling at the DCI Headquarters, three days after his arrest over accusations of obtaining money by false pretence.

Echesa is accused of extortion targeting Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa of a Ksh.39 billion fake arms case.