What You Need to Know
Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of the Wiper Party, has alleged that former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju was effectively abducted while in police custody, where his health rapidly declined. Tuju was arrested on accusations of staging his own abduction, but he was later hospitalized due to serious health issues, prompting concerns from his legal team about his condition.
Africa-Press – Kenya. Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has claimed that former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju was effectively “abducted” inside a police station even as his health rapidly deteriorated.
Speaking outside the Kibera Law Courts, where he was leading Tuju’s legal team, Kalonzo said he personally witnessed what he described as a troubling sequence of events at Karen Police Station.
“I witnessed first-hand abduction at the police station,” Kalonzo said. “All we were trying to say is that Tuju has been a recovering patient following a terrible road accident.”
Tuju was arrested on Monday and booked at Karen Police Station after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) accused him of staging his own abduction.
He was expected to face a charge of giving false information to the police after allegedly claiming that unknown individuals were trailing him.
However, Tuju did not take plea, with his lawyers informing the court that he had since been admitted to Karen Hospital due to health complications.
Kalonzo painted a grim picture of Tuju’s condition while in custody, saying doctors had to be called in urgently to attend to him inside the police cells.
“I must thank the officer in charge at the police station because he allowed doctors from Karen Hospital to come in and examine him inside the police cell,” Kalonzo said.
According to Kalonzo, the attending doctor raised alarm over Tuju’s deteriorating health.
“The examining doctor said the sugar level was at 1.9. This is what made me lose my cool,” he said. “At some point the doctor said in five minutes we could lose him because of the very low sugar level.”
But the DCI has maintained that Tuju’s arrest followed credible investigations into a suspected staged abduction.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin, speaking at a press briefing on Monday evening, claimed Tuju had been at his Karen residence since Friday, despite reports that he had gone missing.
Amin questioned the circumstances under which Tuju was reported missing, pointing to what he termed as inconsistencies and lack of cooperation from those close to him.
“A family member reported Tuju missing for several hours yet was initially reluctant to cooperate fully with police and share critical information with investigating officers,” Amin said.
He added that the report triggered a high-level security response involving multiple units.
“Following the initial report, the National Police Service escalated the matter with urgency, deploying a coordinated multi-agency response. The operation included uniformed officers, experienced detectives, and plain-clothes investigators who were immediately deployed to secure the location, particularly the residence of Raphael Tuju,” Amin stated.
According to the DCI boss, Tuju’s home was subsequently cordoned off to preserve what was considered a potential crime scene and to prevent interference with evidence.
In a twist, Tuju later resurfaced and claimed he had sought refuge with a family in Kiambu after being trailed by unknown individuals in an unmarked vehicle.
The political landscape in Kenya has often been marked by tensions between government authorities and opposition leaders. The recent events surrounding Raphael Tuju’s arrest highlight ongoing issues related to police conduct and the treatment of political figures. Allegations of abduction and mistreatment in custody raise significant concerns about human rights and the rule of law in the country. This incident reflects broader challenges faced by political leaders in Kenya, particularly those associated with opposition parties, as they navigate a complex and often contentious political environment.
