ADVERTISEMENT Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has pleaded not guilty to charges of giving false information to a public officer, in a case that has sparked widespread debate over the alleged misuse of police resources and erosion of public trust.
Tuju was arraigned on Tuesday before the Kibera Law Courts, where the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accused him of deliberately misleading law enforcement with fabricated claims of being trailed and abducted.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions charged Tuju with violating Section 129(a) of the Penal Code, which criminalizes the act of providing false information to a public officer.
According to prosecutors, Tuju reported to police that he had been followed by unknown individuals and later abducted—an incident investigators claim never took place. The alleged false report was made on March 21, 2026, at the upscale Entim Sidai Spa Wellness Sanctuary in Nairobi’s Lang’ata Sub-County.
The court heard that Tuju relayed the information to Chief Inspector Purity Kobia, the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Karen Police Station, triggering an official police response based on what the prosecution now describes as false intelligence.
Prosecutors argued that such actions waste valuable law enforcement resources and undermine public confidence in security agencies.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo, the former Cabinet Secretary firmly denied the charges, paving the way for what could become a closely watched legal battle.
The prosecution is being led by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Maryanne Mwangi and Principal Prosecution Counsel Michael Mutune.
The case has been mentioned and will return to court on April 15, 2026, for further directions.
The high-profile case has ignited fresh conversations about accountability among Kenya’s political class, particularly regarding the making of serious security-related claims that can mobilize state resources and cause public alarm.
If convicted, Tuju faces penalties as prescribed under the Penal Code.
The matter continues to draw significant public interest as Kenyans watch to see how the judiciary will handle questions of truthfulness and responsibility from senior public figures.
