Senator Dan Maanzo has leveled serious accusations against police officers, alleging that they handled former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju with excessive force during his arrest on March 23, 2026.
These allegations emerge amidst a series of events involving Tuju’s sudden disappearance, his reemergence, and subsequent detention on charges of providing misleading information to authorities.
In a recent interview with a local television station, Maanzo recounted the alleged mistreatment, emphasizing Tuju’s existing health issues stemming from a significant accident that resulted in back injuries. He stated, “A very sharp journalist has documented how Raphael Tuju was manhandled. It’s crucial to remember that this gentleman has serious physical issues due to a past accident. They forcibly attempted to place him into a waiting vehicle and dragged him to the police reception.”
Following the incident, authorities transferred Tuju from the Karen Police Station to Mbagathi Hospital for medical care, with a motorcycle reportedly accompanying the transport.
Maanzo detailed the sequence of events leading to Tuju’s arrest, noting that Tuju had secured an occurrence book number at Karen Police Station on Friday after being followed by a white Land Cruiser. On Saturday evening, while en route to a vernacular radio station for an interview, the same vehicle—now lacking a number plate—pursued him again. Tuju managed to evade the vehicle by abandoning his car and fleeing on foot to a secure location, turning off his phone to avoid detection.
Maanzo asserted that Tuju is not prone to fabricating stories and indicated that the family who hosted him would eventually support his account. Authorities plan to arraign Tuju in court on charges of providing misleading information to a person in authority, raising questions about the nature of the alleged misinformation.
The incident has ignited widespread reactions across the political spectrum. Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris urged for a measured and accountable response, stating, “Now that Raphael Tuju is safe, it is imperative that we approach this matter with sobriety and responsibility. If this situation arose from a lapse in judgment, it serves as a crucial reminder that public trust must never be taken lightly.”
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen dismissed the claims of abduction as theatrics, suggesting that Tuju may have orchestrated his own disappearance.
Opposition leaders, including Kalonzo Musyoka of the Wiper Party, have called for Tuju’s immediate release, condemning the treatment he received as unacceptable and potentially harmful to his spinal condition. Witnesses reported that Tuju was heard groaning in pain at the Karen Police Station, where medical personnel from Karen Hospital provided emergency treatment. This saga, which began with Tuju’s reported disappearance, continues to unfold with significant implications for public trust and accountability.
