Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju is at the centre of a growing controversy after investigators concluded that his reported abduction was self-staged, even as details emerge of high-level phone calls made shortly after he went missing.
According to findings by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Tuju never left his residence in Karen despite reports that he had been abducted on Saturday, March 21.
Forensic analysis placed him at his home at the exact time his phone was switched off at 1818Hrs, raising questions about the sequence of events that followed.
The incident quickly escalated into a national concern after former President Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly made calls to several political leaders informing them of Tuju’s alleged abduction.
Among those contacted was Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who later disclosed details of the call while speaking at a church service in Murang’a on Sunday.
He said he had been informed that Tuju had been taken by unknown individuals, triggering concern among opposition figures.
Further reports indicate that similar communication was made to Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, with Owino publicly announcing in Narok that Tuju had been abducted.
However, the narrative took a dramatic turn when Tuju resurfaced on Monday, March 22, confirming that he had gone into hiding and had not been abducted.
DCI investigations have since concluded that the incident was staged, citing digital and forensic evidence showing no movement from his Karen residence during the period he was reported missing.
The agency’s findings now place the spotlight on how the abduction claims spread rapidly among political leaders and into the public domain before being debunked.
Director of Criminal Investigations Amin Mohamed has since issued a stern warning over what he described as a growing trend of staged abductions, saying such incidents mislead the public and divert critical security resources.
“We will not tolerate the misuse of our systems for personal or political gain,” Amin said, warning that those involved could face charges including giving false information and obstruction of justice.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also weighed in, accusing Tuju of staging the incident to gain sympathy.
Murkomen said preliminary investigations showed Tuju was at his residence during the entire period he was reported missing, adding that his phone was traced to a bedroom after it was switched off.
He further claimed that the situation escalated after Tuju’s family reported him missing but initially denied officers access to the Karen residence, prompting intervention from senior police leadership.
According to the CS, Tuju later resurfaced and admitted he had been in hiding.
“These theatrics must come to a stop,” Murkomen said, calling for firm action against what he termed as a growing culture of faked abductions.
While Tuju has maintained that he went into hiding after suspecting he was being followed, investigators say they are now piecing together the full timeline of events, including the role played by those who amplified the initial abduction claims.
