Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has claimed that a powerful government official attempted to buy his disputed Karen property shortly before the dramatic eviction that forced him out of the premises.
Speaking to the press after the operation at the property linked to his company, Dari Limited, Tuju alleged that the approach was made hours before the eviction was carried out.
According to Tuju, the unnamed senior official proposed a buyout deal for the prime property located in Karen, but he turned down the offer.
The former Jubilee Secretary-General suggested that the eviction that followed may have been connected to his refusal to sell.
The controversial eviction stems from a long-running legal dispute between Dari Limited and the East African Development Bank over a multimillion-dollar loan secured using the Karen property as collateral.
Court rulings have allowed lenders and auctioneers to move ahead with recovery efforts after the loan reportedly went into default.
However, Tuju has insisted the matter goes beyond a normal commercial dispute, claiming there has been intimidation surrounding the property.
During the standoff with auctioneers earlier in the week, Tuju defiantly declared he would not leave the property voluntarily.
“They will have to kill me first… before they take this property,” Tuju said while confronting individuals attempting to take control of the premises.
He also maintained that the dispute over the prime real estate is still subject to legal contestation.
“Maybe they kill me! I will not leave,” Tuju said during the confrontation, signalling his determination to resist eviction.
The unfolding saga has sparked widespread political and legal debate, with observers questioning the manner in which the eviction was executed and the broader implications of the claims made by the former Cabinet Secretary.
Tuju’s latest allegations about a secret buyout attempt have now added a fresh political dimension to the already complex property dispute.
As the legal battle continues, the controversy surrounding the Karen property is expected to remain under intense public and political scrutiny.