In a strange twist following the disappearance and reappearance of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has alleged that the incident was staged.
In a statement issued on March 23, 2026, at the DCI headquarters, DCI Director Mohammed Amin questioned why Tuju’s family initially denied investigators access to his home in Karen when he was first reported missing.
According to Amin, after the family initially blocked police from accessing Tuju’s residence along Mwitu Drive in Karen, the National Police Service escalated the matter and deployed a joint team of uniformed officers and plainclothes detectives to secure the location.
He said the homestead was cordoned off to preserve the scene while investigators sought a search warrant from the courts in line with legal procedures.
Amin further claimed that Tuju had remained inside his residence during the period he was reported missing.
“I’m saying this without an iota of doubt that the Hon. Raphael Tuju was physically present within his residence throughout the period in question, including the time his mobile phone was switched off on March 21,” said Amin.
The DCI boss alleged that the disappearance was staged to mislead investigators and the public.
“When confronted with the reality that police were closing in on the truth, Mr. Tuju chose to resurface, confirming investigators’ earlier suspicion that this was a carefully staged disappearance rather than a genuine case of abduction,” he added.
Police say Tuju’s alleged staged disappearance was meant to mislead the public, divert law enforcement resources, and undermine confidence in public institutions.
Amin further revealed that Tuju is currently in custody at Karen Police Station where he is recording a comprehensive statement regarding the incident.
According to the DCI, Tuju will be required to explain his whereabouts, the circumstances surrounding the abandoned vehicle, the report filed by his family, and the identity of individuals who allegedly hosted him in Kiambu County.
Earlier on Monday, Tuju resurfaced, a day after being reported missing, revealing that he went into hiding after detecting suspicious vehicles trailing him in Nairobi.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Tuju said the incident began on Friday after leaving a petrol station in Karen, when he noticed he was being followed.
“It’s easy to know when you’re being followed. You slow down, they slow down,” he said, adding that he reported the matter at Karen Police Station under OB number 21/21/03/2026.
He said the situation escalated on Saturday evening as he headed for an interview, when the same vehicle reappeared without number plates.
“The vehicle didn’t have plate numbers… I got very worried,” Tuju said, linking the incident to a previous encounter where multiple police Land Rovers, some also without registration, had reportedly visited his residence.
According to Tuju, the vehicle closed in on him near Karen roundabout, prompting him to take evasive action.
“They were definitely making sure they are back-to-back with me… I branched into Nandi Road and managed to lose them,” he said.
“I want to thank Kenyans… they gave me shelter. They didn’t care what my tribe is, they just saw me as a human being,” he added, saying he only resurfaced past midnight.
