TUJU HOSPITALISED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER VIOLENT ARREST — LAWYERS ACCUSE POLICE OF BRUTALITY

By Maa Tribune Reporter | March 24, 2026 | POLITICS

Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju is currently hospitalised in critical condition after suffering serious injuries during a dramatic and chaotic arrest at Karen Police Station on Monday, in a case that has sent shockwaves across the country and drawn fierce condemnation from opposition leaders.

The Arrest That Shocked Kenya

Tuju had barely finished addressing journalists about his mysterious 24-hour disappearance when a team of uniformed and plainclothes police officers moved in swiftly to apprehend him. His lawyer Ndegwa Njiru described what followed as nothing short of brutality.

"They pushed him into a car. He hurt his back and as we speak, Honourable Tuju is not well. We have invited doctors to come and advise us," Njiru told journalists gathered outside the station, his voice charged with emotion.

An ambulance was subsequently called to the scene as Tuju's condition deteriorated rapidly inside the station, with doctors from Karen Hospital dispatched to administer emergency medical attention. Despite the clear medical emergency unfolding before their eyes, police officers refused to release him.

"This is a matter under orders from above. We are following instructions and cannot release him at this time," a senior police officer at Karen Station confirmed.

Opposition Leaders Roughed Up

The chaos at Karen Police Station did not stop at Tuju. Former Attorney General Justin Muturi and DAP-Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa were reportedly roughed up by police officers as they attempted to enter the station to check on Tuju's condition.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who had personally driven Tuju to the station in what he described as a show of good faith, was incensed by what he witnessed.

"Hours ago, police and DCI officers surrounded and barricaded Raphael Tuju's home, refusing to let anyone leave until they had him. I personally drove him to Karen Police Station to record a statement in good faith, in the spirit of due process. What followed was unacceptable. Tuju was carried away in a manner that no Kenyan, indeed no human being, should ever experience," Kalonzo said.

Kalonzo, alongside Muturi, Wamalwa, Senator Dan Maanzo, Prof. PLO Lumumba and other opposition leaders, vowed they would not leave the station until Tuju received proper care and justice.

DCI Says Disappearance Was Staged

While Tuju fought for his health in custody, DCI Director Amin Mohamed held a press briefing and dropped a bombshell — accusing the former CS of staging his entire disappearance.

"Based on solid intelligence and meticulous forensic analysis, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations concludes, without an iota of doubt, that Honourable Raphael Tuju was physically present within his residence throughout the period in question," Mohamed told journalists.

The DCI claimed that Tuju's phone was switched off at 6:18 PM on March 21 from within his Karen residence, contradicting his account of being trailed and going into hiding. Authorities added that the staged disappearance diverted critical security resources and created unnecessary public panic.

"When confronted with the evidence, it became apparent that this was a carefully staged disappearance rather than a real abduction. He subsequently resurfaced when the narrative could no longer be sustained," Amin said.

Tuju now faces potential charges of providing false information to a public officer and causing public alarm.

Tuju Denies Everything

Tuju flatly rejected the DCI's claims before his arrest. He maintained that he had spotted a white Toyota Land Cruiser with no number plates trailing him while on his way to a radio interview, and made the decision to go into hiding citing deep distrust of the police given the wave of abductions and enforced disappearances in Kenya in recent years.

His vehicle had been found abandoned on Miotoni Lane in Karen with its hazard lights still flashing, a scene that sent political allies and family members into panic.

"I want to thank a family in Kiambu  they didn't care what my tribe is. They just saw me as a human being," Tuju said during the press conference moments before his arrest.

A Property Battle at the Heart of It All

Behind the drama lies a bitter financial dispute. Investigators are exploring whether the alleged disappearance was a calculated move to stall legal proceedings in a Ksh 3.5 billion property dispute involving Tuju's company Dari Limited and the East African Development Bank. Tuju has consistently maintained that powerful individuals are using legal and security machinery to strip him of his assets.

Driver Steve Mwanga Still Missing

Amid the political storm, the family of Tuju's driver Steve Mwanga has raised an alarm that their kin remains unaccounted for and that his case is being overshadowed. "People are only discussing Tuju while our kin Steve is also missing," a family spokesman said, urging authorities to treat both cases with equal urgency.

Nation Watches and Waits

As Tuju remains hospitalised with a serious back injury and the country awaits word on his condition, the incident has reignited a deeply uncomfortable national conversation about the safety of public figures, the conduct of security agencies and the fine line between justice and political persecution in Kenya.

Maa Tribune will continue to provide updates on Tuju's condition and this fast-developing story.

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