Former Cabinet Secretary Tuju Forcibly Evicted from £1.5 Billion Karen Property
Nairobi, 14 March 2026
Armed police officers stormed Raphael Tuju’s Karen property at 3am on Saturday, forcibly removing the former Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary over a decade-old £1.5 billion debt to the East African Development Bank. Officers arrived in six unmarked vehicles without presenting court orders, prompting Tuju to declare he was ‘ready to die’ rather than leave his premises. The dramatic eviction follows a High Court ruling permitting the auction of Tuju’s properties, though his legal team argues the police action lacked proper authorisation and occurred despite pending appeal proceedings in higher courts.
Police Operation Without Court Orders
The dramatic eviction unfolded when officers from the Rapid Response Unit arrived at Tuju’s Karen compound at approximately 3:00 AM on Saturday, 14 March 2026 [2][3]. The former Cabinet Secretary reported that the armed police squad attacked his facility, removed his security guards, and occupied the property by force without presenting any court order [2]. In widely circulated footage, Tuju was captured stranded outside his Karen property while a contingent of police officers manned the premises [2]. The officers arrived in six unidentified vehicles, with Tuju claiming they did not disclose who ordered the operation and were covering their faces [3]. Speaking from outside his locked gates at 3:30 AM, Tuju declared: ‘This is pure impunity because they have no court orders to conduct such a raid’ [3].
Defiant Stand Against Eviction
Facing the forced removal, Tuju adopted a defiant stance, vowing he would not leave the premises voluntarily [2]. ‘I am not going to leave this place. They have to kill me first because they have no court order. It is not lawful for them to come to my premises at this time and force me out,’ the former Jubilee Secretary General stated [2]. His resistance escalated to dramatic declarations of martyrdom: ‘This is not law, and if it were law, it would be the law of the jungle. I am steadfast and ready to die. If I die in this place, may God bless you’ [2]. The former MP also stated: ‘They have to kill me and bury me in Rarieda’ [3], referencing his home constituency.
The Billion-Shilling Debt Crisis
The eviction stems from Tuju’s ongoing legal dispute with the East African Development Bank (EADB) over a substantial debt [1][3]. Sources report conflicting figures, with one indicating a KSh2.2 billion loan [1] whilst another references a Sh1.9 billion debt [3]. The financial obligation originates from a loan Tuju’s company, Dari Limited, secured from EADB on 10 April 2015, specifically a Sh943.9 million facility for acquiring Entim Sidai in Karen—a 22-acre forested property—and a 94-year-old bungalow [3]. The property in question, known as Dari Business Park, houses the upmarket Tamarind Restaurant [3]. EADB has pursued multiple legal avenues to recover the debt, including seeking to auction Entim Sidai, transfer Dari Business Park, pursue rental payments, and even file for bankruptcy against Tuju and his children—Mano, Alma, and Yma—for contempt of court [3].
Recent Court Developments and Appeal Process
The eviction follows a series of recent court rulings that have gone against Tuju’s interests. On 9 March 2026, the High Court struck out Tuju’s amended application and lifted earlier court orders that had prevented the defendants from dealing with the contested properties [2]. Justice Josephine Mong’are declined to grant interim orders sought by Tuju on that date [2]. However, on 12 March 2026, Tuju secured a temporary reprieve when the High Court allowed him and his company to seek leave to appeal the ruling permitting the auction of his properties [2]. Justice Josephine Wayua Mongare certified the application as urgent and directed that the matter be mentioned on 17 March 2026 before the Commercial and Tax Division for further directions [2]. Commercial Court judge Wayua Mong’are had previously issued orders striking out the case that blocked EADB from auctioning Entim Sidai and transferring Dari Business Park [3]. The Saturday eviction occurred despite Tuju’s pending appeal proceedings, with his lawyers arguing that unless the court halted the process, auctioneers could proceed with property sales, rendering any intended appeal meaningless [2].