Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has been appointed to chair the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.
In a gazette notice, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua appointed Echesa to serve as chairperson of the council for two years, effective Friday, November 29.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 28 (1) and (2) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007, as read together with section 51 (1) of the Interpretation and General Provisions Act, the Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection appoints— Rashid Echesa to be the Chairperson of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, with effect from the 29th November, 2024 up to 18th May, 2026. The appointment of Ali Wario is revoked," the gazette notice read.
Read More
Echesa served as the Chairperson of the Kenya Water Towers Agency Board until this recent appointment.
President William Ruto had appointed the former Sports CS to head the agency for a period of three years, effective May 19, 2023.
Echesa's political career began as a grassroots mobilizer in the ODM Youth League, where he gained recognition for his charisma.
He rose to prominence as the Sports Cabinet Secretary in January 2018, despite controversies over his lack of formal education and experience.
Echesa's tenure was marked by confrontations with opposition figures and internal party disputes, leading to his dismissal in March 2019.
"I have tried all means to know the truth with no success. It hounds me and my family. Everyone keeps asking what I did wrong. It would give me peace of mind and clear my name if the President just told me my mistake. The manner of my dismissal has put me in a precarious position," he said.
Notably after being fired, Echesa was arrested twice; in May 2019 in connection with killings in Matungu and in February 2020 over alleged links to an arms supply bid by foreigners.
A Nairobi Court later freed him in the Ksh 39 billion fake arms scandal after several court appearances and hearings.
After a period of political inactivity, he was recently appointed chairperson of the Kenya Water Towers Agency Board.
