Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has strongly rejected findings by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) that dismissed his reported disappearance as a staged incident.
The dispute follows an incident in March 2026 when Tuju claimed he was being trailed by suspicious vehicles, raising alarm over his safety.
According to his account, the situation escalated to the point where he felt compelled to report himself as missing on March 22, after the alleged surveillance intensified.
He later resurfaced on March 23, sparking widespread speculation and prompting an official investigation into the circumstances surrounding his brief disappearance.
In its findings released on April 3, the DCI concluded that there was no evidence of abduction or coercion.
Investigators relied heavily on CCTV footage, which they say shows Tuju voluntarily entering a vehicle alongside three other individuals.
Raphael Tuju has dismissed the DCI statement as misleading, saying the vehicle in question is part of his private security arrangement and insisting he went into hiding after being trailed by suspicious cars. He has also accused DCI boss Amin Mohammed of conflict of interest and… pic.twitter.com/fzBhLBDhya
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@C_NyaKundiH) April 4, 2026
The vehicle in question, a Toyota Probox, was reportedly owned by his sister-in-law and was tracked moving directly to his residence without any indication of force or distress.
Based on this evidence, the DCI maintained that the movements were coordinated and not consistent with a kidnapping scenario.
However, Tuju has dismissed the report as “laughable,” accusing investigators of ignoring critical aspects of his account.
He has also raised concerns about the credibility of the investigation, alleging possible conflicts of interest involving DCI Director Amin Mohamed.
Tuju insists that his actions were driven by genuine fear, claiming he was fleeing from two grey Subaru vehicles that he believes were linked to a political figure.
He maintains that the perceived threat was real and that his movements should be understood within the context of personal security rather than staged behavior.
The former minister has called for a more thorough and impartial investigation, arguing that the conclusions reached so far do not fully reflect the events as he experienced them.
The controversy has added another layer to Tuju’s ongoing legal and financial challenges, particularly his high-profile dispute with the Eastern Africa Development Bank over a reported Sh1.9 billion debt.
Observers note that the timing of the incident and the investigation has drawn significant public attention, with questions being raised about possible links between his legal battles and the events surrounding his disappearance.
The case has also sparked a wider debate about the reliability of surveillance evidence versus personal testimony, especially in situations involving alleged threats or intimidation.
As the standoff between Tuju and the DCI continues, it remains unclear whether further investigations will be conducted or if the matter will escalate into a legal challenge.
For now, the conflicting narratives leave the public with unanswered questions about what truly happened during the two days Tuju was unaccounted for.
