Kenya: Ex-foreign minister arrested and accused of staging his disappearance
Former Kenyan Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju was arrested a day after he was reported missing in kenya, accused by police of staging his disappearance. Mohamed Amin, Director of Criminal Investigigations, said Tuju had been inside his residence the whole time and described the events as a “carefully staged disappearance. ” The arrest follows a prolonged legal battle over the auction and takeover of Tuju’s Nairobi properties tied to an unsettled bank loan.
Key facts of the arrest and disappearance
Police moved to detain Raphael Tuju after investigators concluded he had not been abducted but had remained at his home. Mohamed Amin, Director of Criminal Investigations, said: “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. ” He added that the provision of false information to authorities is “a very, very serious offence. ”
Authorities had earlier said Tuju’s vehicle was found abandoned with its hazard lights on along a road in Karen, an upmarket suburb of the capital, and that his phone was switched off. The discovery of the abandoned vehicle and the lack of contact amplified fears across kenya and prompted an initial public appeal for information.
Tuju had told a local station he went into hiding after being followed by an unmarked vehicle; he said he had deliberately branched onto a road to shake off the tail and then abandoned his car, reasoning it would be the first place anyone would look. His family had said he and his driver went missing while on their way to an evening radio interview.
Reactions from officials and the former minister
Mohamed Amin, Director of Criminal Investigations, framed the case as deliberate deception: “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. ” He stressed the seriousness with which investigators treat the provision of false information to authorities.
Raphael Tuju, identified as a former Kenyan foreign minister, defended his actions in public remarks. He said his family was “very traumatised” and described himself as “blessed because there are many Kenyans in unmarked graves, ” thanking those who had supported him. Tuju has previously alleged that dozens of police officers raided his property in Karen, ejected staff and security, and taken control of business premises; he asserted powerful officials were behind attempts to seize his property. The government has not commented on those allegations.
Background and legal backdrop
The arrest comes amid a long-running court dispute over lenders seeking to recover debts of over $15m tied to properties owned by Tuju’s company, Dari Limited. Tuju has mounted multiple legal challenges to stop the auction and takeover, and had recently obtained court orders barring the transfer of the property until his latest application is heard.
Police had initially opened an investigation into his reported disappearance and appealed to the public for information before concluding that the disappearance had been staged. The case has intersected with both criminal and civil proceedings, leaving legal and investigatory avenues active.
What happens next
Investigators say inquiries will continue while the legal dispute over Tuju’s properties proceeds through the courts; the transfer of the disputed properties remains barred until the outstanding application is heard. Observers and parties directly affected will be watching the pending court hearing and the police investigation for further developments that could reshape the legal and public narrative in kenya.
