Raphael Tuju’s worsening health at Karen Police Station amid assault claims has sparked fresh outrage in Nairobi as the former Cabinet Secretary remains in custody despite calls for immediate hospital care. Doctors who examined him inside the station say his condition is getting worse, with family members pointing to rough handling by officers that made old injuries flare up badly.
The officers at the station claim they are unable to act independently because they are following orders from their superiors, which raises concerns about accountability and the treatment of detainees in custody. That is why over 20 police vehicles surrounded his business at Dari before Tuju was evicted.
Tuju resurfaced on Sunday after going missing for a day. A suspicious white Toyota Land Cruiser without number plates followed him, and he later discovered his car abandoned in Karen.
What started as worry over a possible abduction turned into drama when police took him in for questioning right after he spoke to reporters at his home. His lawyer Paul Nyamodi claimed officers forced him into a vehicle without proper booking, describing it as heavy-handed treatment.
Now inside Karen Police Station, Tuju complains of severe back pain linked to a past accident. Sources close to the family say police allegedly manhandled him during the arrest, aggravating that old spinal issue. Doctors from the nearby Karen Hospital were allowed in to treat him on site.
They checked his condition and noted fluctuating blood sugar levels, which add to the worry since he needs close monitoring. One report indicated that the officers appeared anxious and wanted the doctors to transfer him, but the medical team insisted he was too unstable for transport at that time.
Opposition figures and supporters gathered outside the station, refusing to leave until they got answers. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka joined the vigil, demanding Tuju get proper medical attention in a hospital.
Lawyers argue the police have orders from higher up not to release him or allow a full transfer, even as his health slips. Videos circulating online show tension at the gates, with crowds chanting and officers pushing people back to clear the area.
This incident comes on top of Tuju’s recent battles over his property in Karen. Just days earlier, police cleared him out of his Dari Business Park home over a long-running debt dispute. He spoke out strongly against what he called an unlawful auction.
The timing of his disappearance and quick arrest has many wondering if personal or political scores are being settled. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations says he staged the whole missing episode to avoid questions, but his team calls that nonsense and points to the visible pain he is in now.
Family members stay close, updating friends and the media on every small change. They fear the combination of back pain, sugar swings, and stress could lead to something more serious if he stays locked up without better care.
One relative described hearing him groan in discomfort during the medical check. Supporters online share clips of the doctors arriving and demand immediate release on humanitarian grounds.
Similar cases have occurred in Kenya, where high-profile figures clash with authorities and raise health concerns during custody. Here, the focus stays on whether Tuju receives fair treatment while the investigation into his disappearance moves forward.
Police have not given a detailed public comment on the assault allegations or the medical situation beyond confirming he is held for recording a statement.
As night falls in Karen, the station remains under watch. Lawyers push for court intervention, while doctors monitor Tuju closely inside. The former Foreign Affairs and Information CS built a name as a steady voice in government, but right now his priority is simply getting the care he needs.
Friends and political allies say the whole episode raises bigger questions about how suspects, especially those with past injuries, get handled once in custody, particularly regarding their access to medical care and the protocols in place to ensure their health and safety during detention.
The story keeps developing fast. More opposition voices are expected to weigh in tomorrow, and the family hopes for a breakthrough that lets Tuju see a specialist soon.
For now, concern grows with every passing hour that his condition might slip further without proper hospital facilities.
