The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju with providing false information to a public officer.
Tuju was arraigned at the Kibera Law Courts, where he faced charges under Section 129(a) of the Penal Code. The prosecution told the court that he knowingly misled law enforcement, an offence they say undermines effective policing and public trust.
The alleged incident occurred on March 21, 2026, at Entim Sidai Spa Wellness Sanctuary in Lang’ata Sub-County. According to prosecutors, Tuju informed Chief Inspector Purity Kobia, Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Karen Police Station, that he had been trailed by unknown assailants and later abducted, claims authorities assert were false and intended to trigger official action.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo, Tuju pleaded not guilty and was released on a personal bond of KSh 100,000. The case is scheduled for mention on April 15, 2026, for pretrial directions.
The former minister has been entangled in a prolonged legal dispute over the auction and takeover of his Nairobi properties linked to an unsettled bank loan.
Tuju maintains that upon realizing he was being followed, he diverted onto a less accessible road to evade pursuit. After shaking off the trailing vehicle, he says he abandoned his car, anticipating it would be targeted. He has also argued that past incidents of abductions and killings in Kenya influenced his decision not to seek immediate police assistance and instead go into hiding.
Earlier, police had launched investigations into his reported disappearance and appealed to the public for information. His family stated that Tuju and his driver went missing while en route to an evening radio interview.
Authorities later recovered his vehicle abandoned with hazard lights on along a road in Karen, a suburb of Nairobi. Police reported being unable to reach him, as his phone was switched off.
In a separate claim, Tuju alleged that dozens of police officers had raided his Karen property, evicted staff and security personnel, and taken control of the premises. He further accused powerful individuals of orchestrating attempts to seize his property allegations the government has not publicly addressed.
