Former Kenyan Minister Claims Police Have Occupied His Home Amid Death Threats
Nairobi, 12 April 2026
Raphael Tuju alleges over 100 police officers have taken control of his Kisumu property, including his living room, despite court rulings in his favour. The former Cabinet Secretary claims powerful individuals want his land and can deploy state machinery against him. Most dramatically, he has instructed his family to bury him within 48 hours if he dies, explicitly excluding government involvement in his funeral arrangements.
Police Occupation and Court Rulings Defied
The situation escalated on 12 April 2026, when Tuju publicly questioned why the Kenyan government had deployed over 100 police officers to his private property in Kisumu [1]. The former Cabinet Secretary expressed particular frustration that these officers had allegedly taken over sections of his home without his consent, including his living room [1]. ‘They are sitting in my compound, even in my living room, without my permission. That is absolute impunity,’ Tuju stated [1]. Despite a court ruling that nullified a title deed allegedly fraudulently acquired over Tuju’s land, police officers remained stationed on the property as of 12 April 2026 [1]. Tuju accused state agencies of facilitating ‘blatant impunity’ despite court rulings in his favour [1].
Surveillance and Investigation Concerns
Beyond the police presence on his property, Tuju has raised serious concerns about his personal safety, claiming vehicles without registration plates have been trailing him [1]. He revealed that he had provided registration numbers of vehicles following him to authorities, yet no investigation had been conducted as of 12 April 2026 [1]. ‘I have provided registration numbers of vehicles following me, yet there has been no investigation. Why is the Directorate of Criminal Investigations not looking into this?’ Tuju questioned [1]. The former minister’s allegations suggest a coordinated effort to intimidate him, with what he describes as powerful individuals deploying state machinery against him [1].
Burial Instructions and Death Preparations
In a dramatic escalation of his claims, Tuju announced on 10 April 2026 that he had given explicit burial instructions to his family, insisting he must be buried within 48 hours of his death with no government involvement [2]. Speaking to journalists at his Rarieda home, Tuju referenced recent quick burials, including those of political figures Raila Odinga and Francis Ogolla, as examples of the timeline he expects [2]. ‘I have told my people clearly that when that matter comes, that I die, I want to be buried within 48 hours. I don’t want to see any government involved, pretending that it has any relationship with me. No government is involved in my burial,’ he stated [2]. Tuju showed his family two specific burial locations where they could make the final decision [2].
Property Dispute Background and Financial Stakes
The current crisis stems from Tuju’s Karen property, the Dari Business Park, connected to a 2015 loan from the East African Development Bank [2]. Businessman Jackson Chebet claims his company, Ultra Eureka Limited, legally acquired Tuju’s property at a public auction in October 2024 for KSh 450 million [2]. According to Chebet, Ultra Eureka now controls the property, which remains charged to KCB Bank [2]. President William Ruto had previously advised Tuju to compensate the buyer to recover the property, but Tuju insisted the title should be returned without payment [2]. As of 11 April 2026, Tuju maintained his position that his personal safety remained dire, alleging that those who want his land are the only ones who would benefit if anything happened to him [1].