Former Kenyan minister Raphael Tuju arrested after alleged staged disappearance

Former Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister, Raphael Tuju, has been arrested a day after reports of his disappearance sparked fears of a possible abduction.

Kenya’s Director of Criminal Investigations, Mohamed Amin, said on Tuesday that Mr Tuju had not been abducted but was found within his residence.

Mr Amin described the incident as “a carefully staged disappearance rather than a genuine case of abduction.”

Police accuse Tuju of misleading the public

According to the police, Mr Tuju’s actions appeared to be a deliberate attempt to mislead authorities and the public.

“The deliberate conduct by Raphael Tuju appears to be a calculated effort to deceive the public, generate unwarranted sympathy, and undermine the integrity of the National Police Service,” Mr Amin said during a press briefing.

He added that providing false information to authorities is considered a serious offence.

Claims of being followed

Shortly before his arrest, Mr Tuju had told local broadcaster Citizen TV that he went into hiding after being trailed by an unmarked vehicle.

His initial claims had raised concerns among supporters and the public about his safety.

Ongoing legal dispute

Mr Tuju has been involved in a protracted legal dispute over the auction and takeover of some of his properties in Nairobi, linked to an unsettled bank loan.

The circumstances surrounding his reported disappearance and subsequent arrest are likely to add a new dimension to the ongoing case.