By Valentine Omondi
Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has linked his prosecution over alleged false information to his political association with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, claiming President William Ruto’s remarks at a rally in Siaya were part of the political context surrounding the case.
Tuju made the claims on Thursday, October 29, 2026, while appearing before Kibera Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo, where he questioned the basis of the charge against him and described the proceedings as a politically motivated case.
The former Cabinet Secretary alleged that the President had criticised him during a political rally in Siaya over his association with people considered to be “wrong friends”.
Tuju argued that the remarks were relevant to understanding why he was facing prosecution, suggesting that the case was not merely a legal matter but had political undertones.
He did not provide further details of the alleged remarks in the courtroom exchange captured in the video.
The claims come at a time when Kalonzo has been positioning himself as a leading opposition figure and consolidating political alliances ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Tuju questions basis of charge
Tuju told the court that he considered the charge sheet defective and questioned how he could have reported to police that he had disappeared.
He argued that the allegations against him were illogical and referred to police officers who had testified in the case.
The former Cabinet Secretary cited the Officer Commanding Station at Karen Police Station, Chief Inspector Purity Kobia, and her deputy, saying the Deputy OCS had denied that Tuju made the alleged statement attributed to him.
Tuju maintained that the prosecution had failed to establish a credible basis for the charge.
He also said the case was wasting his time by requiring him to attend court over allegations he considered baseless.
The prosecution, however, alleges that Tuju knowingly gave false information to a police officer after reporting that he had been followed by unknown individuals and subsequently abducted.
The charge is brought under Section 129(a) of the Penal Code.
Tuju has denied the charge.
How the case began
The case arose from events on March 21, 2026, when Tuju reported to Karen Police Station that he had been followed by unknown individuals.
The report followed concerns raised by his family after 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 disputed his account, alleging that he had staged his disappearance and remained at his Karen residence during the period he was reported missing.
The DCI said investigations had established that Tuju was at home when his phone went off.
The former Cabinet Secretary rejected the allegations.
The prosecution subsequently charged him with giving false information to a public officer, alleging that he knowingly made a false report about being trailed and abducted.
Kalonzo’s role in the case
Kalonzo Musyoka has been publicly associated with Tuju since the events surrounding the former Cabinet Secretary’s reported disappearance.
The Wiper leader was among the political figures who raised concerns about Tuju’s safety and accompanied him during the legal proceedings.
On March 24, Kalonzo said he had witnessed what he described as an abduction at Karen Police Station, where Tuju had been taken following his arrest.
Kalonzo also raised concerns about Tuju’s health while in custody, saying doctors had warned that his condition was critical.
The DCI, however, maintained that the arrest followed investigations into a suspected staged disappearance.
Kalonzo has continued to appear alongside Tuju in public and in court, reinforcing their political association.
The two have also been seen together during opposition political activities, including the Ukombozi tour in Siaya County.
Political context surrounding the Siaya remarks
The alleged remarks by President Ruto at a rally in Siaya form the central political claim in Tuju’s latest courtroom statement.
The President completed a five-day tour of Nyanza in September, during which he sought to deepen his administration’s political presence in a region long associated with the late opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Days later, Kalonzo visited Bondo as part of his Ukombozi tour, accompanied by several opposition figures, including Tuju.
During the visit, Kalonzo invoked his political relationship with Raila and urged the community to support him, while criticising the President’s administration.
The political exchanges reflect a wider contest for influence in Nyanza ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tuju’s claim that Ruto’s remarks about his association with Kalonzo are connected to his prosecution, however, remains an allegation.
The available courtroom transcript does not establish that the President influenced the decision to charge Tuju or that the prosecution was initiated because of his political relationships.
Court yet to determine the case
Tuju pleaded not guilty to the charge 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 Tuju made and the investigations that followed.
Chief Inspector Purity Kobia 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.
The court is yet to determine whether the prosecution can prove that Tuju knowingly gave false information.
Tuju maintains that the charge is politically motivated and that he has continued to respect the judicial process despite his concerns.
The latest remarks add a political dimension to the case.
