NAIROBI, Kenya — Dramatic scenes unfolded in Nairobi as former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju was forcefully arrested just hours after resurfacing following his reported disappearance.
The arrest, captured on camera by journalists and bystanders, appeared swift and physically intense, with Tuju taken into custody and driven to Karen Police Station.
The incident occurred shortly after Tuju had addressed the media, where he spoke publicly for the first time about his disappearance, which began on Saturday evening. He had gone missing alongside his aide, Steve Mwanga, prompting concern from family members and authorities.
A missing persons report had been filed at Karen Police Station, while Tuju’s vehicle was later found abandoned along Miotoni Lane, with its hazard lights still on, raising further alarm over his whereabouts. Efforts to reach him at the time were unsuccessful, as his mobile phone remained switched off.
Authorities had deployed a specialised investigative team to trace both Tuju and his aide, working in coordination with multiple government agencies.
Upon reappearing, Tuju described himself as fortunate to be alive under the circumstances and provided insight into why he had gone into hiding. He alleged that he had been trailed by individuals in an unmarked vehicle, whom he believed to be linked to security agencies.
“Police have been to my residence without number plates on their vehicles. How do you go to report to them?” he posed.
Tuju said the experience left him deeply unsettled, influencing his decision to avoid reporting to law enforcement and instead seek safety elsewhere.
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He disclosed that he had taken refuge with a family in Kiambu after the incident, fearing for his safety and uncertain about the intentions of those pursuing him.
Tuju’s arrest immediately after resurfacing is likely to intensify public scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the conduct of law enforcement agencies.
The case adds to growing concerns in Kenya over alleged enforced disappearances and the use of unmarked vehicles in security operations, issues that have been repeatedly raised by civil society organisations and human rights groups.
As of now, authorities have not publicly detailed the grounds for Tuju’s arrest, leaving key questions unanswered about the sequence of events and the legal basis of the operation.
