Tom Awili’s video urging Tuju to approach Ruto over the Karen property battle has ignited fresh debate in Kenyan political circles after the recording surfaced online. In the clip, the businessman is heard advising former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju to speak directly with President William Ruto if he wants his troubles with the Dari Business Park resolved.
Awili’s private conversation with Tuju suggests that reaching out to the president could resolve the issues.
He suggests that engaging people in high places holds the key to sorting out the long-running dispute. At one point, Awili refers to lawyer Kimani Wachira as “the lawyers’ president” and hints that connections like that could smooth things over quickly.
This comes at a sensitive time for Tuju. His prime property, Karen, has been at the center of a bitter debt battle involving billions of shillings. A company linked to the saga reportedly acquired the asset at auction.
Tuju has fought the sale in court, claiming irregularities, while his recent brief disappearance and subsequent detention at Karen Police Station added even more layers of suspicion and public sympathy.
Awili himself is no stranger to controversy. He was among four suspects arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission in a sting operation involving former High Court judge Joseph Mutava and advocate Kimani Wachira.
The EACC probe centred on alleged bribery attempts tied to a commercial dispute, with millions of shillings changing hands to influence court outcomes. Awili’s name keeps popping up in these conversations, making his recorded advice to Tuju stand out even more.
Many Kenyans watching it perceive it as evidence that powerful networks continue to manipulate behind the scenes when significant money and prime land are at stake.
Others argue it simply shows friends trying to help each other navigate a messy situation. Either way, the clip has people asking tough questions about how land and justice work in the country.
Tuju insists that the property’s prime location, not unpaid debts, was the target of the attack. He insists he had the money to settle what he owed but that certain parties preferred to seize the asset instead.
His allies, including some opposition figures, have used the latest recording to suggest high-level political involvement in the matter. The direct mention of President Ruto’s name has only intensified the speculation.
The recording also puts fresh attention on the EACC case involving Awili, Mutava, and Wachira. If the advice in the clip is taken as evidence of how disputes get settled outside formal channels, it could complicate ongoing investigations, particularly by suggesting that informal resolutions may undermine the integrity of the legal process.
So far, neither Awili nor Tuju has issued a detailed public response to the leaked conversation. The presidency has stayed silent on specific claims as well.
More and more people are joining the conversation as the video spreads. Some people want an independent investigation into how the Dari Business Park changed owners.
Some people tell Tuju to focus on the courtroom instead of backchannel talks. The story illustrates the frequent intertwining of personal fortunes, political ties, and legal battles in Kenya, regardless of the circumstances.
