Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has accused police officers of rough and brutal handling of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju during his arrest on Monday, March 23, 2026.

The claims come amid a whirlwind of events surrounding Tuju’s brief disappearance, resurfacing, and subsequent detention over allegations of giving misleading information to authorities.

Speaking during an interview with a local TV station, Maanzo detailed the cited mistreatment, noting that Tuju, who has pre-existing physical issues from a serious accident, including back injuries, was forcefully manhandled.

“A very sharp journalist has today put on record how Raphael Tuju was manhandled. Remember, this gentleman had a serious accident and still has physical issues. His back was injured when they forcefully tried to put him inside the waiting Subarus, and they dragged him to the police reception,” Maanzo said.

Tuju was later moved from Karen Police Station to Mbagathi Hospital for medical attention, with a motorcycle reportedly following the vehicle.

Sequence of events leading to arrest

Maanzo explained that Tuju obtained an occurrence book number at Karen Police Station on Friday after being trailed by a white Land Cruiser.

On Saturday evening, while heading to a vernacular radio station for an interview, the same vehicle, now without a number plate, followed him again. Tuju reportedly evaded them by turning, abandoning his car, and fleeing on foot to a safe location. He switched off his phone to avoid being tracked.

Maanzo emphasised that Tuju is not prone to fabricating stories and suggested that the family that hosted him would eventually come forward to corroborate his account. Authorities plan to arraign Tuju in court for allegedly giving misleading information from a person in authority, raising questions about who was allegedly misled.

National reactions and ongoing debate

The incident has sparked reactions across the political divide. Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris called for sobriety and accountability, saying, “Now that Raphael Tuju is safe, it is important that we approach this matter with sobriety and responsibility. If indeed this situation arose from a lapse in judgment, it serves as a reminder that public trust must never be taken lightly.”

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen dismissed abduction claims as theatrics, suggesting Tuju may have staged the disappearance.

Opposition leaders, including Wiper Party’s Kalonzo Musyoka, demanded Tuju’s immediate release, describing the handling as unacceptable and potentially worsening his spinal condition. Witnesses reported Tuju groaning in pain at Karen Police Station, where doctors from Karen Hospital provided emergency treatment. The saga, which began when Tuju was reported missing