Former Kenyan Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju was arrested on Monday, a day after he was reported missing, sparking widespread fears of a possible abduction and intense public speculation about his safety and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. The arrest followed a series of confusing events that began on Saturday when Tuju and his driver were reported missing while on their way to an evening radio interview.
Police initially launched an appeal for public assistance after Tuju’s vehicle was found abandoned with hazard lights on along a road in Karen, one of Nairobi’s upmarket suburbs, and his phone was switched off, making contact impossible. The reported disappearance prompted concern among opposition leaders and the public, with Governor James Orengo alleging that Tuju had been “kidnapped” and calling for prayers for his safety, while Lawmaker Otiende Amollo said, “We are urging the police to do all that is within their power to trace and protect him. We abhor the possibility that there are people who can abduct someone of [his] stature.”
However, in a press conference on Monday, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin clarified that Tuju had been inside his residence the entire time, describing the episode as a “carefully staged disappearance rather than a genuine case of abduction.” Amin emphasized the seriousness of Tuju’s actions, stating, “The deliberate conduct by Raphael Tuju appears to be a calculated effort to deceive the public to generate unwarranted sympathy and to undermine the integrity of the National Police Service.
The provision of false information to authorities is a very, very serious offence.” The arrest thus revealed that Tuju’s disappearance had been orchestrated, rather than an actual threat to his safety, and exposed tensions between public perception and official accounts.
Tuju, speaking to Citizen TV before his arrest, explained that he had gone into hiding after realizing he was being followed by an unmarked vehicle. “When I realised I was being trailed, I branched off onto a road where it would be more difficult to follow me. Once I had shaken off the other vehicle, I then abandoned my car which I knew they would be looking for,” he told the station.
The former minister also described the emotional toll the incident had taken on his family, saying, “My family is very traumatised… and I consider myself blessed because there are many Kenyans in unmarked graves.” He further expressed gratitude to Kenyans and opposition politicians who had supported him, explaining that his decision to avoid police assistance was influenced by the real dangers faced by other Kenyans who had been abducted or killed in the past.
The episode comes amid a long-running legal battle over Tuju’s properties in Nairobi, tied to an unsettled bank loan of over $15 million (£11m) linked to his company, Dari Limited. Tuju has lodged multiple legal challenges seeking to stop the auction and takeover of the properties, and he recently obtained orders preventing the transfer of the assets until his latest application is heard.
The former minister has previously alleged that dozens of police officers had raided his property in Karen, ejecting staff and security personnel, and taking control of the premises, claims that point to broader concerns about powerful officials allegedly attempting to seize his assets. While the government has not commented on these allegations, the controversy has heightened public attention on Tuju’s disappearance and the political and financial pressures surrounding his property disputes.
Reactions from opposition figures reflected the deep anxiety his disappearance caused before the truth was revealed. Governor James Orengo had urged Kenyans to pray for Tuju, stating, “Let’s pray for Tuju because he has gone through a lot,” while Lawmaker Otiende Amollo said that authorities were being pressed to provide answers and ensure the former minister’s safety.
These responses underscore the sensitive political and social context of the incident, illustrating how high-profile property and financial disputes in Kenya can quickly escalate into public and political crises. Tuju, who served in several government roles, including as Foreign Minister, remains a prominent figure in the country’s political landscape, and the case has highlighted the intersecting issues of public safety, property rights, and political influence.
Police had initially appealed to the public for information following Tuju’s reported disappearance, signaling the seriousness with which they treated the matter before it was clarified. The discovery of his abandoned vehicle in Karen, coupled with his switched-off phone, had added urgency to the search and fueled speculation of a potential abduction. Now, with Amin’s clarification and Tuju’s own account, it has become clear that the incident was not a genuine threat but a self-orchestrated disappearance.
Nevertheless, the episode has intensified scrutiny on Kenya’s legal and security institutions and drawn attention to the fraught nature of high-stakes property disputes in Nairobi, particularly those involving prominent public figures and contested bank loans. The incident remains a vivid reminder of the tensions that can arise when personal, political, and financial interests collide in Kenya’s urban and political landscape, highlighting both the fragility of public trust and the need for transparent, lawful resolution of disputes.