By Miraj Guo | April 8, 2026
Former Cabinet Secretary and Raphael Tuju has pleaded not guilty to charges of providing false information to police over his alleged abduction last month.
Tuju appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Stella Atambo at the Kibera Law Courts on Wednesday, where he firmly rejected claims by the state that he staged a “self-abduction” to mislead both the public and law enforcement agencies.
According to the prosecution, Tuju reported on March 21, 2026, at the Karen Police Station that he had been trailed and kidnapped by unknown armed individuals. However, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) disputed his account, presenting forensic findings and CCTV footage which allegedly show that he never left his Karen residence during the time he was reported missing.
Defense lawyer Edward Oonge urged the court to grant Tuju bail, citing his long record in public service and declining health. The defense further noted that Tuju had recently been discharged from Karen Hospital, where he was treated for injuries his legal team claims were sustained during what they described as a “rough” arrest by DCI officers.
The case unfolds amid a separate high-stakes financial dispute involving the multi-billion-shilling Dari Business Park. Tuju is currently seeking to block the auction of the property over a Sh4.5 billion debt row with the East African Development Bank (EADB).
The court is expected to deliver its ruling on his bail application later today.
