Siaya Governor James Orengo has strongly criticised the state over the forceful eviction of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju from his Dari Business Park in Karen, describing it as an act of systemic injustice.
In a pointed statement on Sunday, Orengo called Tuju “a wonderful leader and strategist” and “a good man doing good,” but branded him “a victim of ferocious capitalism and a bloody cabal in a kleptocratic state.” He lamented the judiciary’s inability to shield the weak from the powerful, adding: “When the judiciary cannot protect the weak against the mighty, justice becomes a distant and remote mirage. Tuju, let me say this. The struggle continues.”
The eviction unfolded dramatically in the early hours of Saturday, March 14, when over 50 police officers—some in unmarked vehicles—stormed the prime Karen property around 3 a.m. They removed Tuju, his family, guards, and workers, sealed the compound, and restricted access. Tuju claims no valid eviction order was presented at the time, despite an ongoing appeal scheduled for the Court of Appeal.
The dispute stems from a Sh943.9 million loan Tuju’s company, Dari Limited, took from the East African Development Bank in 2015 to develop the upscale site, home to businesses like Tamarind Karen restaurant and Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary. The debt has ballooned to approximately Sh2.2 billion, leading to court rulings in Kenya and the UK that cleared the path for auction after default.
Tuju maintains he sought restructuring and even offered to pay, but alleges the move is driven by land-grabbing interests rather than debt recovery. He has written to Chief Justice Martha Koome seeking probes into judicial conduct and those behind the raid, vowing the fight is far from over.
Orengo’s intervention has amplified political outrage, with critics questioning the heavy police involvement in what appears to be a civil commercial matter. Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o and others have condemned the use of state force in a private debt case.
As the Court of Appeal hearing approaches, the case continues to fuel debate over justice, property rights, and the role of powerful interests in Kenya’s economic landscape.
