A Magistrates Court is set to give further directions in the Sh39 billion fake arms deal case involving former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa. The case will be heard by Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.
Echesa was acquitted in December 2021 after a ruling by Magistrate Kenneth Cheruiyot, who stated that the prosecution had failed to present key witnesses. However, in February 2024, High Court Judge Kanyi Kimondo ordered Echesa and his co-accused to return to court to defend themselves after the state’s appeal succeeded.
Echesa then sought an appeal in the Court of Appeal, where Justices Patrick Kiage, Ali Aroni, and Lydia Achode issued a stay order, suspending the High Court’s directive. Today’s session will update the court on the case’s progress and the next steps.
In a separate matter, Justice Chacha Mwita will issue directions on the case of four individuals—Justus Mutumwa, Martin Mwau, Karani Muema, and Stephen Kavingo—who were arrested in mid-December and held beyond the constitutional limit. The judge ordered their unconditional release or for their bodies to be produced in court on January 13 at 10 am.
