Rashid Echesa is in big trouble after a Nairobi Magistrate ordered that eight girls from Pakistan who had been flown into the country as “Cultural Dancers” through special permits issued to them by the cabinet secretary, be kept in a safe house as police run their investigations to find out whether they are victims of suspected human trafficking.
The girl’s lawyer Mr Evans Ondieki confidently told the court that the eight girls were in Kenya “with full permission of CS Rashid Echesa”.
The girls were arrested at Balle Balle Club in Parklands.
Mr Ondieki, in their defence, further went on to say that the eight “cultural dancers” were allowed to enter the country by Echesa to “promote transnational cultures”.
Ondieki pleaded with the court to release the girls as Balle Balle’s club owner is investigated. He also expressed deep regret that the police are ignoring CS Rashid Echesa’s order that allowed the girls to “perfom” in Kenya until January 18 this year.
He claimed that each of the girls paid the Immigration Department Ksh. 45,000 to be issued with the special passes.
“What government are the police serving and what government is Mr Echesa serving? Aren’t they serving the same regime,” asked Mr Ondieki.
The girls, through the magistrate’s order are now under the care of Mr Nadeem Khan, the director at Blue Heart, a non-governmental organization that specializes on human trafficking, violence and child abuse.
The girls will appear in court again on 8th January 2019 where the owner of Bella Bella Club, one Mr Safendra Kumar Sonwani and his manager Mr Mika Osichiro will be arraigned in court for prosecution of human trafficking.
The two are currently being detained over irregularly trafficking the eight girls into the country.
