Barely a week after former Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to forgive him, a number of investigative agencies have now told the High Court that he is not immune to criminal proceedings.
The Attorney General (AG), Inspector General of Police (IG), the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have maintained that they will ensure justice is served.
The agencies told High Court Judge Jesse Njagi that it is within their mandate to arrest, and charge anyone involved in criminal activities including Echesa.
The agencies also dismissed claims that the arrest was politically motivated.
Echesa, an ally of Deputy President William Ruto, had claimed that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was behind his woes.
He made the claims after he was arrested alongside Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala over the recent killings in Matungu.
The four agencies told the court that Echesa, and other any leader implicated of any criminal offence, will face the full force of the law without fear or favor.
“Orders sought are tantamount to clothing the applicant with immunity against any criminal proceedings which are in contravention of the respondents’ constitutional mandate. Allegations that he is politically targeted are false and not backed by any evidence,” the respondents said.