The family of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has raised alarm over his mysterious disappearance, saying they strongly suspect he may have been abducted after going missing under unclear circumstances on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
Tuju has not been seen since Saturday afternoon, with his mobile phone switched off since then, sparking concern among relatives, friends, and close associates.
According to his son, Mano Tuju, the family’s fears intensified after they received a call from the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Karen Police Station, who reported that Tuju’s vehicle had been found abandoned along Miotoni Lane in the Karen area of Nairobi. The discovery of the car marked the first concrete sign that something could be wrong.
The family has since filed a missing person’s report at Karen Police Station, as efforts to trace his whereabouts remain unsuccessful.
Adding to the mystery, Tuju’s driver, identified as Steve Mwangi, who was last known to be with him, is also missing. The dual disappearance has further heightened concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Prior to his disappearance, Tuju had reportedly raised concerns about his safety. On Friday, just a day before he went missing, he is said to have reported to authorities that he was being followed by a white Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series vehicle without number plates. The suspicious vehicle raised fears of possible surveillance or targeting.
His lawyer later confirmed that a formal complaint had been lodged with police regarding the incident.
Tuju was also expected to appear for a scheduled radio interview at Ramogi FM on Saturday at 7:00 pm, but he failed to show up and could not be reached. Since then, all attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.
The sequence of events—from the reported trailing vehicle to the abandoned car and sudden loss of communication—has deepened fears within the family that his disappearance may involve foul play.
The incident comes against the backdrop of a highly publicised and ongoing legal battle involving Tuju over the auction of his prime properties in Karen.
The dispute stems from an alleged failure to repay a loan amounting to KSh 1.9 billion borrowed from the East African Development Bank (EADB) in 2015. The initial loan stood at approximately USD 9.2 million (about KSh 1.2 billion), with the remainder accruing as interest over time.
Among the properties at the centre of the dispute are the Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary located off Tree Lane in Karen, Tamarind Karen, and the Dari Business Park situated along Ngong Road.
Just days before his disappearance, on March 19, Tuju had written to Douglas Kanja, protesting what he termed as an unlawful occupation of the Dari Business Park by police officers.
In the letter, Tuju claimed that more than 100 police officers had raided the premises in the early hours of March 13 without a court order and had remained stationed there for nearly a week.
He argued that the continued presence of the officers had paralysed operations at the business park, which hosts at least 24 tenants, including Tamarind Karen. According to him, professionals such as lawyers had been locked out of their offices and denied access to essential files, laptops, and client documents.
Tuju maintained that he had always been willing to repay the loan, but alleged that the process surrounding the planned takeover of his properties had been politicised.
In a further escalation, he also wrote to Chief Justice Martha Koome, raising concerns about the conduct and integrity of certain judicial officers, and questioning the legal process that allowed auctioneers to proceed with the planned sale of his Karen property.
As investigations into his disappearance continue, his family is appealing to the public and security agencies for assistance in locating him.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the matter, but the case is likely to attract significant public attention given Tuju’s prominence in Kenyan politics and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
