Newly elected Chwele-Kabuchai Member of County Assembly Eric Wekesa has been ordered to appear before Directorate of Criminal Investigations officers in Kapsabet on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in a violent robbery of coffee berries that occurred in Tinderet, Nandi County in 2029.
The summons has sparked intense debate just days before the ward representative is scheduled to be sworn in at the Bungoma County Assembly.
Sources within the DCI confirm that the file on the 2029 Nandi coffee robbery was reopened last month after fresh witness statements linked the now 34-year-old politician to the incident that left two farm guards seriously injured and over 1,200 kilograms of ripe cherries stolen. Detectives want the Chwele-Kabuchai MCA to record a formal statement and clarify his whereabouts on the night of October 12, 2029.
Speaking to journalists outside his home in Chwele market on Monday morning, Hon. Eric Wekesa expressed shock at the timing of the DCI summons.
“I won the election fairly a few days ago, and now, six days before swearing-in, they resurrect a case from six years ago. I smell political witchcraft,” the UDA MCA-elect stated while showing reporters the official letter delivered by plain-clothes officers on Sunday evening.
The politician further claimed powerful individuals who lost to him during the party nominations are behind the renewed interest in the old Nandi coffee robbery case.
“They know once I am sworn in I will enjoy constitutional immunity on certain matters. That is why they want me arrested before Thursday,” Wekesa alleged.
Family members and supporters who gathered at his compound vowed to accompany him to Kapsabet Police Station. Youth leader Caleb Wanyonyi warned that any attempt to detain the incoming MCA would spark protests across Bungoma South. “We voted for change. We will not allow hired goons in Nandi to block our representative,” he told the crowd.
Nandi County Police Commander confirmed the investigation is active but declined to give details. “We are following leads on an old robbery with violence case. The person of interest happens to be an elected leader now, but the law applies equally,” the commander said.
Legal experts say the timing raises legitimate questions because robbery with violence cases carry a potential death sentence, meaning police can arrest and charge without necessarily waiting for the swearing-in.
However, Article 50 of the Constitution guarantees a fair hearing, and the MCA-elect has the right to apply for anticipatory bail if he feels detention is imminent.
Sources inside the assembly say speaker Emmanuel Situma has already received requests from several MCAs to postpone the Chwele-Kabuchai swearing-in ceremony scheduled for December 5 in case the elected representative is in custody.
However, the DCI move has left many speechless, as people are in 2025 and the case referred to is in 2029.
As the clock ticks toward Wednesday’s reporting date, political temperatures continue rising in both Bungoma and Nandi counties over the DCI summon of Chwele-Kabuchai MCA Eric Wekesa. Supporters have organised night vigils while lawyers prepare court papers in case the coffee robbery probe turns into immediate detention.
Whatever happens in Kapsabet this week will set an important precedent on how security agencies handle criminal allegations against newly elected leaders before they take oath of office. For now, the ward that overwhelmingly chose Eric Wekesa waits anxiously to see whether their MCA will be sworn in as planned instead of the 2029 case.
