The disappearance of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju and his driver Steve Mwanga has escalated into a high-stakes national mystery, with fresh details revealing early friction between investigators and the family—just as political analysts cast doubt on the likelihood of any fatal outcome.
Tuju and Mwanga vanished on Saturday evening under chillingly unclear circumstances. His vehicle was later found abandoned along Miotoni Lane in Karen—engine off, keys still in the ignition, and both men unreachable, their phones switched off.
The case took a dramatic turn as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launched a full-scale probe, treating the scene as a potential abduction. Yet, investigators were initially met with hesitation from within Tuju’s inner circle. It was reported that members of the family were wary of allowing detectives unrestricted access to the Tuju residence on Mwitu Drive—a development that may have slowed crucial early-stage evidence collection.
Family lawyer Paul Nyamodi was unequivocal: “Our brother Tuju has been abducted. His car was abandoned on the road with the ignition keys inside.” The alarm was first raised Sunday morning when Tuju’s son, Mano Tuju, received a call from Karen Police Station confirming the discovery of the vehicle.
The timeline paints a troubling picture. On Friday, March 20, Tuju reported being trailed by an unmarked white Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series without number plates—an incident he formally reported to police. The following evening, he was scheduled for a 7pm interview at Ramogi FM. He never arrived.
By Sunday, both Tuju and Mwanga had effectively disappeared without a trace.
Detectives moved swiftly, deploying forensic teams to Miotoni Lane and expanding the search across Karen and its environs. The DCI has since appealed for public cooperation, even as it quietly pushed for full access to the family compound to aid the investigation.
But this disappearance is unfolding against a volatile backdrop.
Tuju has been embroiled in a protracted, multi-billion-shilling legal battle with the East African Development Bank (EADB) over a 2015 loan that has since ballooned to nearly KSh 2 billion. The dispute involves prime assets including Dari Business Park, Tamarind Karen, and Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary.
Just days before his disappearance, over 100 police officers conducted a controversial pre-dawn raid on Dari Business Park—an operation Tuju decried as unlawful. In letters addressed to Inspector-General Douglas Kanja and Chief Justice Martha Koome, Tuju raised alarm over threats to his safety and questioned the integrity of the judicial process surrounding the contested properties. A High Court order has since temporarily halted any transfer, with the matter set for hearing on April 7.
Political leaders have reacted with urgency. Kalonzo Musyoka described the incident as a “forcible abduction” and demanded that Tuju and his driver be produced alive and unharmed. Oburu Oginga and James Orengo echoed similar concerns, with Orengo calling for national prayers amid what he termed Tuju’s “tribulations.”
Yet beyond the immediate outrage, political analysts are urging a more measured reading of events. Several argue that, given the current political climate, it would be strategically reckless for any actor to sanction harm against a figure of Tuju’s stature.
With the State actively courting political goodwill in Luo Nyanza, analysts suggest that any such escalation would be profoundly counterproductive. “Whoever may be behind the incident, if at all politically linked, would have little incentive to harm him,” noted one observer. “The timing simply does not support that kind of outcome.”
As of Monday morning, there have been no ransom demands, confirmed sightings, or major breakthroughs. The investigation remains active, multi-agency, and increasingly complex—caught between forensic pursuit, family sensitivities, and a politically charged backdrop.
Kenya has witnessed its share of high-profile disappearances tied to land disputes, power struggles, and financial battles. But this case—set in the leafy calm of Karen and involving a former Cabinet Secretary—has struck a deeper national nerve.
For now, the questions linger.
What happened on Miotoni Lane?
Was this linked to the EADB standoff—or something more intricate?
And crucially, where are Raphael Tuju and Steve Mwanga?
