By Valentine Omondi
Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has accused unnamed senior political figures of approaching his children in an alleged attempt to persuade him to cooperate with the government and bring his ongoing criminal case to an end, raising fresh questions about claims of political pressure surrounding his prosecution.
Tuju made the allegations on Thursday, October 29, 2026, while appearing before Kibera Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo, where he is facing charges of allegedly giving false information to a public officer over his reported disappearance in March.
The former Cabinet Secretary told the court that he had remained respectful of judicial institutions despite what he considers an unjust prosecution, but would not tolerate attempts to involve his children in the case.
“When senior political officers in this country approach my children to ask me to cooperate so that through that cooperation this case can be ended, I am not going to be that stupid,” Tuju said.
He claimed his children had returned home distressed after allegedly being approached by individuals asking them to persuade him to cooperate.
Tuju did not identify the individuals he accused of approaching his children, nor did he provide details of the alleged conversations.
The allegations introduce a new dimension to a case that has already drawn political attention following the former Cabinet Secretary’s reported disappearance in March and the subsequent decision by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to charge him with giving false information to police.
Tuju says he will not yield to pressure
Addressing the court, Tuju said he had endured the legal proceedings patiently because of his respect for the rule of law.
He, however, accused unnamed political figures of crossing a line by allegedly involving his family.
“I behaved very politely, very docile, because of my respect for the rule of law. But to have some politician approaching my children, and my children coming to my house with tears in their eyes, asking me, ‘Why don’t you just do what I want you to do?’ I want to put it on record that I will not do it,” he told the court.
The former Cabinet Secretary maintained that he would not allow his children to be drawn into a dispute he considers politically motivated.
He also criticised the prosecution, describing the case as unfounded and questioning the basis of the charge sheet.
Tuju claimed prosecutors had attempted to involve his child as a witness in the case, saying the effort had backfired.
“Prosecutors are young lawyers engaging my children, trying to do a career. And they know, I know, that that charge sheet is defective, to recall,” he said.
The prosecution has not been shown in the available reporting to have responded to Tuju’s latest allegations about political figures approaching his children.
Case follows reported disappearance in Karen
The criminal case against Tuju stems from events on March 21, 2026, when he reported to Karen Police Station that he had been followed by unknown individuals.
The report came after his family raised the alarm over his whereabouts when he failed to attend a scheduled interview at Ramogi FM and could not be reached on his phone.
His vehicle was later found abandoned in Karen, prompting police investigations and a search for him.
Tuju resurfaced on March 23, saying he had gone into hiding after noticing that he was being followed by individuals in an unmarked vehicle.
He said he had sought refuge with a family in Kiambu.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations, however, disputed his account, with its director, Mohamed Amin, alleging that Tuju had remained at his Karen residence during the period he was reported missing.
The DCI described the disappearance as staged and said investigations had established that Tuju was at home when his phone went off.
Tuju rejected the allegations.
Prosecution alleges false information
The charge against Tuju alleges that on March 21, 2026, at Entim Sidai Spa and Wellness Sanctuary in Karen, he informed a police officer attached to Karen Police Station that he had been trailed by unknown assailants and subsequently abducted.
Prosecutors claim the information was false and that Tuju knew it to be untrue when he made the report.
The charge is brought under Section 129(a) of the Penal Code, which deals with giving false information to a person employed in the public service.
Tuju pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Kibera Law Courts on April 8 and was released on a personal bond of Sh100,000.
The case has since proceeded through court, with police officers giving evidence about the report and investigations.
Chief Inspector Purity Kobia, who received the report, told the court in September that Tuju had reported being followed by a white Land Cruiser but that she could not determine whether the information was true or false.
“I could not know whether it was false or true. I made the report as it was reported,” she said.
She also told the court she could not say whether Tuju had lied.
Tuju insists on respect for the court
During Thursday’s proceedings, Tuju said he continued to respect the judiciary despite his concerns about the prosecution.
He told the court that he had been too weak to stand and address it during an earlier appearance but was now able to speak.
The court expressed empathy over his health challenges and welcomed his return in better health.
Tuju thanked the court for its civility, saying his respect for judicial institutions had guided his conduct throughout the case.
The magistrate indicated that the proceedings could continue now that Tuju was in good health.
The case remains before the court, which is yet to determine whether the prosecution can prove the charge against him. The court proceedings are expected to continue as the prosecution and defence present their respective cases.
