Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju Arrested at Karen Police Station Following Dramatic Resurfacing From 24-Hour Disappearance

Ex-CS Raphael Tuju arrested at Karen Police Station moments after resurfacing from a 24-hour disappearance. Lawyers claim he was assaulted by police.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 9:21 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

From Mysterious Abduction to Police Custody

The ongoing saga surrounding former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju took a sharp and dramatic turn on Monday, March 23, 2026. After a high-profile 24-hour disappearance that many feared was an abduction, Tuju resurfaced at his Karen residence in the company of several opposition principals, including Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa. However, the relief was short-lived; upon presenting himself at the Karen Police Station to officially document his ordeal, the former Jubilee Party Secretary-General was himself arrested by law enforcement officers.

Allegations of Force and Physical Assault

The arrest was far from routine, characterized by a heated confrontation between Tuju’s legal team and the police. Defense attorney Ndegwa Njiru reported that officers attempted to bundle Tuju into an unmarked vehicle before he could finish his entry in the Occurrence Book. Njiru alleged that during the ensuing scuffle, Tuju was subjected to "serious violence," resulting in a significant back injury. The legal team has classified the situation as a medical emergency, awaiting further evaluation from doctors while expressing concerns over what they termed a state-sanctioned "abduction" within the police station itself.

Tuju’s Account of the Disappearance

Prior to his arrest, Tuju provided context for his absence, claiming that he had been forced into hiding to evade several unmarked vehicles that were trailing him. His car had been found abandoned earlier, fueling nationwide speculation regarding his safety. According to Tuju, the decision to go "off the grid" was a necessary survival tactic rather than a move to evade the law. His resurfacing alongside key political figures was intended to be a formal return to the public eye, but it instead catalyzed a direct legal clash with the authorities.