Raphael Tuju being treated by doctors at Karen Police Station amid arrest chaos has heightened tensions in Nairobi after the former Cabinet Secretary resurfaced from a brief disappearance only to face detention and injury claims. Doctors from Karen Hospital arrived at the station Sunday afternoon to check on him inside the cells following reports he got hurt during a scuffle with officers.
The day started with relief when Tuju appeared at his Karen home for a press conference. After filing a complaint about a suspicious white Toyota Land Cruiser without plates, he vanished on Saturday afternoon.
His car turned up abandoned on Miotoni Lane, phone off, sparking abduction fears from family, lawyer Paul Nyamodi, and even Siaya Governor James Orengo, who called it a kidnapping. Supporters gathered outside the station earlier, chanting for answers.
But the mood shifted fast. Police took Tuju in to record a statement after the briefing. His lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, described a rough handover. Officers allegedly forced him into a Subaru vehicle despite protests.
Njiru shouted that it looked like an abduction attempt, urging media and crowds not to leave. “They want to abduct him. “Mark that vehicle,” he said as the car drove off. Police chased away supporters surrounding the station, clearing the area amid rising shouts.
Inside, Tuju complained of back pain from the incident. His team called for medical help right away. Doctors from nearby Karen Hospital came in to examine him on site since police refused release.
Officers cited orders from higher up, saying they couldn’t let him go yet. No details on the exact injuries came out, but Njiru called it serious violence, not just a push. They waited for the doctors’ advice on next steps, possibly pushing for hospital transfer or bail.
This incident comes right after Tuju’s long fight over his Dari Business Park property. Police raided it on March 13 in a debt dispute linked to billions in loans. Over 50 officers moved in early in the morning; no court order was shown, according to him.
He wrote to Inspector General Douglas Kanja protesting the occupation as unlawful. The property auction tied to old cases kept the pressure on.
Tuju resurfaced looking composed at first, speaking to reporters about his whereabouts. He denied hiding and said he stayed safe amid threats. But the quick arrest changed everything.
Opposition voices like Kalonzo Musyoka joined lawyers outside, refusing to budge until clarity came. The crowds attempted to remain stationary, but the police forcefully pushed them back.
The station stayed locked down for hours. Media filmed from outside, catching glimpses of tension. Family and friends worried about his health, especially after the missing person scare. His driver, Steve Mwanga, remains unaccounted for too, adding to the unease.
This saga ties into bigger worries in Kenya about abductions and police conduct. Tuju’s profile as former Information and Foreign Affairs CS makes it difficult to ignore. Critics say the timing links to his outspoken views and property battles. Police haven’t commented much beyond holding him for statement purposes.
As doctors finished up inside, questions hung over them. Would Tuju get released soon? Or face charges? Supporters outside kept vigil, phones ready for updates. The former politician’s ordeal shows how fast things turn in Kenya’s political scene, from missing person alert to medical emergency in custody.
