Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has been rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Karen Hospital after his health reportedly deteriorated while in police custody, halting plans to arraign him at Kibera Law Courts.
Tuju’s condition is said to have worsened hours after he was detained at Karen Police Station, where he had initially been taken to record a statement following his reappearance after a two-day disappearance.
A video that surfaced on Tuesday, March 24, showed the former Jubilee Party Secretary General lying on what appeared to be a makeshift bed inside the police station, covered with a duvet.
He was seen on oxygen support, with a tube connected to his nose and an IV drip running beside him as an unidentified individual adjusted the flow.
The footage has sparked concern over his condition, coming just a day after police confirmed he had received medical attention while in custody.
Tuju was taken to Karen Police Station on Monday, March 23, after resurfacing from a mysterious disappearance that began on Saturday, March 21. He had reportedly gone missing alongside his driver, Steve Mwanga, under unclear circumstances.
Upon reappearing at his Karen home, police escorted him to the station, marking a dramatic turn in a saga that had already drawn widespread public attention.
Shortly after his detention, Tuju’s legal team alleged that he had been mishandled during the arrest and sustained injuries, pushing for his immediate transfer to hospital.
Instead, medical personnel from Karen Hospital were dispatched to the police station, where they attended to him within the facility. Police later confirmed that treatment had been administered after Tuju complained of health complications.
However, the emergence of the video suggested his condition may have worsened overnight, necessitating oxygen support and close monitoring, before his eventual transfer to the hospital’s ICU.
The incident has triggered mixed reactions among Kenyans, with some expressing concern over his well-being while others questioned the circumstances surrounding his illness.
“I’ve watched this several times… it hits every time. Once a powerful CS, doors opened, people listened. Now he’s sick, in a cell, just another human being. Life humbles. Power is temporary,” one Kenyan commented online.
Another warned the government to ensure his safety, stating: “We might not have a soft spot for Tuju, but the government better act right. If anything happens to him, it will become personal.”
Others remained skeptical, drawing comparisons with past political incidents. “It’s hard to trust a politician… I wonder if Tuju is doing the same thing,” another comment read.
The developments come amid claims by Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Amin Mohamed, who accused Tuju of staging his alleged abduction.
According to Amin, investigations backed by forensic analysis indicated that Tuju remained at his Karen residence during the period he was reported missing.
“He was at home, and his phone was switched off while still there,” Amin said.
Authorities are yet to issue a comprehensive update on Tuju’s current condition as investigations into the controversial incident continue.
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