Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju made a dramatic return to the public eye around midday on Monday, addressing journalists from his Karen home just one day after being reported missing and sparking nationwide concern.
Tuju, who vanished Saturday evening, March 21, confirmed he deliberately went into hiding after detecting surveillance. “I noticed I was being followed before and reported it to the authorities,” he told reporters. “On Saturday, as I headed to a scheduled interview at Ramogi FM, I spotted the same vehicle—this time without number plates. I know Karen well. I branched into Nandi Road, lost the tail, and abandoned my car.”
The episode unfolded amid escalating tensions surrounding a long-running property dispute involving Tuju’s Dari Business Park in Karen. His vehicle was discovered abandoned on Miotoni Lane with hazard lights flashing, prompting his family to file a missing persons report at Karen Police Station on Sunday. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) swiftly launched a probe, towing the car for forensic examination and forming a special team to investigate possible abduction.
Tuju described the ordeal as deeply distressing for his loved ones. He sought temporary refuge with a family in Kiambu until past midnight before safely returning home. “My family is traumatized,” he said, adding a sobering reflection: “I consider myself lucky—many Kenyans end up in unmarked graves.”
While Tuju is now accounted for, his driver and aide, Steve Mwanga—a former Ugenya parliamentary aspirant—remains untraceable. Mwanga’s family recorded a statement with police today, pressing authorities to pursue both cases with equal urgency. “People are only talking about Tuju while our kin Steve is still missing,” a family representative emphasized.
The saga traces back to a heated Sh2.2 billion loan recovery battle tied to the Karen property. Recent events include a reported 3 a.m. raid by armed officers and an earlier incident where Tuju filed a police report after being aggressively tailed by an unmarked white Toyota Land Cruiser.
Opposition voices, including figures from ODM, have called for calm and lawful resolution of commercial disputes, warning against actions that could tarnish Kenya’s reputation.
DCI investigators continue forensic analysis of the abandoned vehicle and have appealed for public tips on any suspicious activity in Karen over the weekend. As questions linger about the unmarked vehicles and the broader property feud, Tuju’s resurfacing offers partial relief—but the search for Mwanga keeps the story far from over.
Dalanews Kenya will continue tracking developments in this unfolding Nairobi mystery. Stay tuned for updates.
