Former Kenyan cabinet minister Raphael Tuju has said he went into hiding after suspecting he was being followed, a day after his disappearance triggered fears that he may have been abducted.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Monday, Tuju explained that he noticed an unmarked vehicle trailing him, prompting him to take evasive action. He said he deliberately changed routes multiple times before eventually abandoning his car in a bid to avoid being tracked.
He described the experience as distressing, particularly for his family, and noted that his actions were influenced by concerns over previous cases of abductions in Kenya. According to him, this fear was also the reason he did not immediately seek assistance from the police.
Tuju had last been seen on Saturday while on his way to a radio interview. His sudden disappearance led his family to report him missing, sparking widespread concern.
Police later confirmed that his vehicle had been found abandoned in Karen, an affluent suburb of Nairobi, with its hazard
lights still on. At the time, his phone was switched off, further deepening fears about his safety.
Authorities subsequently launched an investigation into the incident and appealed to the public for any information that could help trace his whereabouts, as speculation continued to grow.
The former minister is currently involved in a long-running court dispute over properties linked to his company, Dari Limited. Lenders are seeking to recover more than $15 million in unpaid loans, a move Tuju has challenged in court.
He has also previously alleged that security officers entered his property and took control of some of his business premises, although the government has not issued any official response to those claims.
Following news of his reappearance, opposition figures expressed relief but also renewed concerns over alleged abductions in the country. They called for greater respect for the rule of law and urged authorities to address the growing fears surrounding enforced disappearances.
TNAM
Edited By Egwu patience Nnennaya.
