Rashid Echesha's Biography, Age, Spouse, Tribe, Real Name, Networth and Lifestyle Wikidata | Claim this profile

Rashid Echesha's Biography in Summary

Rashid Mohammed Echesa's rise from primary school dropout to national prominence at such a young age is an inspiring story of triumph over adversity.

Born into a modest family in the Mumias Sugar Company neighborhood of Western Kenya, Echesa faced a difficult future due to the region's widespread poverty.


Early Life and Background

Rashid Mohammed Echesa, despite his humble beginnings, rose to national prominence at a young age.

He was born into a modest family near Mumias Sugar Company in Western Kenya.
 

Echesa's father, Mohammed Lukungu, worked as a company driver, and his mother sold bananas at Shibale market.

Growing up in a region plagued by material deprivation, Echesa's future appeared bleak.

Education and Early Employment

Echesa dropped out of Shibale Primary School, where he had studied from 1990 to 1997, and began trading and doing menial work in Shibale.

He eventually found work as a manual labourer at Mumias Sugar Company, where he learned about politics and trade unionism.

Echesa's leadership and mobilization abilities piqued the interest of political figures in the Kakamega region, particularly Mumias, a key political battleground.

His tenacity and bravery served him well in the region's adversarial politics.

Political ambitions and entry into politics.

Echesa's membership in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the dominant political party in the Mumias area at the time, cemented his status as a potential regional leader.

His alliance with the party's leader, Raila Odinga, strengthened his political standing.

However, following Raila's defeat in the 2007 elections, Echesa shifted his support to Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, Odinga's political rivals at the time.

Echesa's ability to rally support for his new patrons demonstrated his growing influence and financial success.

Political Milestones

In 2017, Echesa supported Kenyatta and Ruto, aligning himself more closely with Ruto's faction within the ruling coalition.

Kenyatta rewarded him for his loyalty by appointing him Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture, and Heritage.

However, opposition members criticized his appointment, claiming that Western Kenya had more educated and refined leaders who could better represent the region.

Although Echesa was scrutinized during the parliamentary vetting process due to his limited education, he emphasized that ministries are led by technocrats, including highly educated Permanent Secretaries, who could make up for his educational gap.

Echesa believed that his appointment exemplified the constitutional imperative of inclusivity in government, reminding the vetting board that he was appointed because he was a poor child who wished to help others from similar circumstances.

Personal characteristics and leadership style

Running the Sports, Culture, and Heritage ministry proved difficult for Echesa. He encountered numerous obstacles, including wrangling, cartel attempts to avoid detection, and competing interests within the ministry.

The ministry had a broad mandate that included developing and implementing sports policies, managing sports facilities, promoting cultural heritage, and developing talent through sports academies.
 

Echesa's performance in the ministry was not flawless. During his visit to Bondo, former President Kenyatta expressed disappointment in the state of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's mausoleum.

Furthermore, Echesa violated protocol and made political statements, despite the fact that cabinet secretaries were not permitted to do so.

Echesa's thirteen-month tenure was marked by controversies and negative publicity.

Achievements

Despite his shortcomings, Echesa oversaw some accomplishments during his tenure. Kenya continued to compete in international sporting events, such as the Commonwealth Games and the IAAF Championships.

Stadiums such as Nyayo Stadium, Kipchoge Keino Stadium, and Kamariny Stadium underwent renovations.

The ministry also secured the hosting rights for the 2020 World U20 Championship.


Scandal, dismissal, and Life After Cabinet

Echesa's political career suffered a significant setback in February 2019 when he was arrested and charged with multiple offenses related to a fraudulent military equipment deal.

The case alleged that Echesa and several co-accused individuals attempted to defraud foreign investors by promising to sell them military equipment worth billions of Kenyan shillings.

The scandal sparked widespread media coverage and raised concerns about Echesa's integrity and involvement in illegal activities.

He was eventually dismissed from his Cabinet position in early 2020, but no reason was given.


Throughout the legal process, Echesa maintained his innocence, claiming that he was the victim of a political witch hunt and that the charges against him were politically motivated.
 

Nonetheless, the court case proceeded, and Echesa faced a lengthy legal battle to clear his name.


Withdrawal of charges

In May 2021, Echesa's case took a significant turn when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) dropped the charges against him and three other co-accused individuals.

The DPP cited insufficient evidence to support the charges, freeing Echesa and his co-accused from the legal burden they had faced for more than two years.

The withdrawal of charges marked a watershed moment in Echesa's political career, giving him the opportunity to rebuild his reputation and rekindle his ambitions.

Following his legal victory, Echesa increased his political activities in an effort to reclaim his position in the political landscape.


He remained loyal to the political faction led by President William Ruto, actively participating in campaigns and rallies in support of Ruto's presidential candidacy in the upcoming 2022 general elections.

Return to politics and comeback in government.

Echesa's return to the political scene elicited mixed reactions.

Supporters praised his resilience and saw his legal victory as vindication, reinforcing their faith in his leadership abilities.

However, critics remained skeptical, questioning his integrity and suitability for public office in light of the corruption allegations swirling around him.
As the 2022 general election approached, Echesa announced his intention to run for political office.


Eventually, he ran for the Mumias West parliamentary seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, but was defeated by Johnson Naicca, who won on an ODM ticket.

On May 18, 2023, President Ruto appointed him as chairperson of the Kenya Water Towers Agency Board.