The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has formally launched a probe into the disappearance of former Cabinet Secretary and veteran politician Raphael Tuju, hours after his abandoned vehicle was discovered along Miotoni Lane in Nairobi’s upmarket Karen suburb, sending shockwaves across the country and triggering urgent demands for answers from politicians, lawyers, and members of the public.
The development, confirmed through an official DCI press release signed by John Marete, HSC, for the Director of Criminal Investigations, comes amid mounting alarm over Tuju’s fate, with top politicians openly suggesting he has been abducted.
Tuju was last seen by his family on Saturday afternoon, March 21, 2026.
That evening, he was scheduled to appear on Ramogi FM for a planned interview but never showed up and could not be reached.
The alarm had actually begun the day before, on Friday, when Tuju reportedly noticed he was being followed by a white Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series bearing no number plates.
He went to Karen Police Station the following day, Saturday, to formally report the incident, recorded under OB 21/21/03/2026.
His driver, Steve Mwanga, is also reported missing. According to family lawyer Paul Nyamodi, both men disappeared on Saturday evening, with their vehicle subsequently found abandoned in Karen.
The missing person report was filed at Karen Police Station and recorded under OB 17/22/03/2026.
Siaya Governor James Orengo, speaking during a church service on Sunday, confirmed that Tuju’s car had been found deserted, with the keys left inside.
A security guard from a nearby institution alerted authorities, prompting a swift response by officers from Karen Police Station.
The scene was processed by Crime Scene Investigators and the vehicle was towed to Karen Police Station for forensic examination.
Tuju’s son Mano Tuju received the call from the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at Karen Police Station on Sunday morning while at church, informing him that his father’s vehicle had been found abandoned along Miotoni Lane.
In a striking disclosure within its press release, the DCI revealed that investigators seeking to access Tuju’s residence along Mwitu Drive were denied entry by the family, a development the agency publicly flagged as an obstacle to the investigation.
The DCI has called for full cooperation from all parties, including unrestricted access to relevant locations and prompt provision of information, for a swift and thorough resolution.
A specialised team has since been deployed and is coordinating with relevant government agencies to establish Tuju’s whereabouts.
Orengo went further than most, telling the congregation that he believed Tuju had been kidnapped, urging Kenyans to pray for him and saying the former official had gone through a lot.
A team of high-profile lawyers, including Paul Nyamodi, Evans Ogada, and PLO Lumumba held a press briefing at Entim Sidai in Karen on Sunday afternoon, calling for urgent government action and raising concern over Tuju’s safety
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi was among the most pointed in his response, demanding the government account for Tuju’s fate.
“The Ruto government must present him alive or dead. Non-negotiable. Kenyans are tired of kidnappings, disappearances and abductions of fellow Kenyans!” he said.
Tuju’s disappearance did not occur in a vacuum. It comes at the peak of a prolonged and bitter legal battle over his multi-billion-shilling Karen properties.
Tuju’s troubles trace back to 2015, when the East African Development Bank (EADB) granted his company Dari Limited a loan of KSh 943.9 million to fund the acquisition and development of commercial units in Nairobi.
The grace period lapsed in 2017, triggering years of legal wrangling.
On March 14, 2026, more than 50 officers from the Rapid Response Unit conducted an early-morning operation at the Dari Business Park, sealing the compound and removing Tuju and several occupants from the premises.
Tuju maintained the operation was carried out without a valid court eviction order and resulted in injuries to a family member.
On March 18, the Commercial Court declined to grant temporary orders blocking the auction of the property, with Justice Moses Ado directing that the case be heard on priority and scheduling a hearing for April 7, 2026.
Just three days before he went missing, on Thursday March 19, Tuju wrote to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja seeking police protection, citing concerns about his safety and property.
He had also alleged that he was being pressured after declining to sell his prime properties to a powerful government official, and that efforts to restructure or repay the loan had been frustrated.
The DCI confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing and that further updates will be provided as significant developments arise.
The public has been asked to share any information on Tuju’s whereabouts through the DCI contracts or by visiting the nearest police station.
As of Sunday evening, Tuju’s phone remains switched off, and neither he nor his driver has been found.
