Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju was forcibly removed from his property in Karen on Saturday, March 14, after armed police officers moved in and sealed off the premises following a long-running financial dispute.
Security officers cordoned off the compound housing Dari Business Park, leaving the property locked and inaccessible. The move has disrupted operations for approximately 25 businesses operating within the business park, including Tuju’s private office.
The property has been at the centre of a prolonged legal battle between Tuju and East African Development Bank, which auctioned the property after alleging that the former minister defaulted on a loan used to develop the site.
The latest development comes just days after Tuju wrote to Martha Koome, the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, accusing certain individuals within the Judiciary of corruption related to the case. His letter raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the handling of the matter.
Earlier this week, on Wednesday, auctioneers accompanied by security personnel and a group of individuals attempted to take control of the property. That attempt resulted in a tense standoff at the Karen premises.
The dispute escalated after a court ruling allowed the auction of the property in order to recover a debt estimated at more than Ksh1.9 billion, a matter that has been the subject of litigation for several years.
However, the court also granted Tuju the opportunity to appeal the ruling, leaving the legal battle ongoing even as enforcement measures begin.
The forced removal and closure of the business park now raises concerns for tenants operating within the compound, many of whom have been temporarily locked out of their workplaces.
The case continues to attract national attention due to its legal complexity, the large financial stakes involved, and Tuju’s status as a prominent political figure in Kenya.
