Echesa’s arms deal exposes formation of a rebel movement

The agents were able to track the process and shared intelligence with the relevant agencies. It has emerged that Echesa had made suspicious contacts with persons associated with armed conflicts in Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

Fresh details have emerged of how a Multi-agency security team, comprised of both US and Kenyan officials, raised a red flag following a revelation of the intention to acquire sophisticated military hardware and surveillance equipment from a US/Poland arms dealer, Eco Advanced Technologies LLC, by fictitious individuals, for alleged “use” by Kenya Defense Forces (KDF).
The agents were able to track the process and shared intelligence with the relevant agencies. It emerged that Echesa had made suspicious contacts with persons associated with armed conflicts in Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda.

According to the confidential report seen by Citizen Weekly, Echesa was in constant communication in the months of October and November with Nathaniel Ntegwenda, a former Congolese General wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes. Investigations have revealed that this is the time the Echesa arms deal was hatched.

“It’s our strong belief that Rashid Echesa, with the help of General Nathaniel Ntegwenda and unnamed Ugandan official, is coordinating the creation of a rebel movement either within the Kenyan borders or outside with an intention of launching attacks on ‘unidentified targets”, the report reads.

“Since his sacking from Cabinet on 1st March 2019, Echesa has visited Congo severally, spending time at Deputy President William Ruto’s home in Brazzaville from where he coordinates operations at Ruto’s vast maize farm.”, the report further adds.

Besides meeting General Nathael Ntegwenda, the report further details how Echesa also met Milton Mahenga, a Ugandan military operative named by the U.N as a person of interest in the assassination of Sudanese politician and revolutionary leader Dr. John Garang de Mabior on 30 July 2005.

The former South Sudan president died in a helicopter crash inside Uganda where General Mahenga was in charge of operations and coordination of allied armed groups. Investigations revealed that Garang was meticulously eliminated by Kampala, the biggest beneficiary of the South Sudan conflict.

Most intriguing is Deputy President William Ruto’s role in this whole saga. At the sidelines of the inauguration of the ‘William Ruto Leadership Institute at the Makerere University’ on 21st December 2019, Ruto who was accompanied by among others, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Nandi Senator, Samson Cherargei and confidante Rashid Echesa held several private meetings with General Nathanael Ntegwenda and Gen Mahenga.

Speaking to Citizen weekly on condition of anonymity, due to the sensitivity of the matter, a reliable source at Harambee Annex, confirmed that the arms deal was genuine and that the arms were to be transported covertly to Uganda. He further revealed that roping in Defense Ministry officials and making the whole process a deal-making affair was part of authentication jig.

Ruto’s dalliance with Museveni has further raised eyebrows. The staggering Sh 10 billion recent donations to _Makerere_ University is believed to be a cover of the existence of an ‘armed movement’, with Makerere University being used as a conveyor belt.

Last year Echesa was arrested alongside Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and Mayoni MCA Libinus Oduor after a gang killed more than 30 people in a week. Authorities in the country believe that Kenya could be facing a possible emergence of a rebel movement as the next election draws near.