Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has urged sobriety, accountability and responsible leadership after the dramatic vanishing and re-emerging of Raphael Tuju.

Passaris, in a statement on his social media on Monday, March 23, 2026, expressed the necessity of the country proceeding with sober consideration and not speculation, that Tuju and his safety provided the country with an avenue to look inward. She emphasised that in case the incident was caused by a failure to make a decision, it would be a lesson to remember how much people entrusted leaders with.

“Now that Raphael Tuju is safe. It is now 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. Leaders must act with honesty and clarity, especially in moments that create national anxiety. As the law reminds us, “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands,” Passaris stated.

She said that the trust that people have in leaders cannot be flaunted and that leaders should ensure that they are honest, transparent, and clear, particularly at a time when people feel anxious as a country. She quoted the legal aspect, which states that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands, and this shows the significance of integrity in leadership.

Meanwhile, Passaris warned against irresponsible utterances that would bring down the institutions of the state. To categorise the National Police Service as a terrorist group, she dubbed it as out of line and said such an allegation is not only incorrect, but it also harms the trust society has in law enforcement.

Passaris restated that Kenya could only be stable when leaders are based on truth, fairness and respect for institutions. She urged citizens and other prominent people to adopt responsible communication and to shun rhetoric that could fuel mistrust or cause tension.

Tuju’s disappearance

The case of Raphael Tuju commenced when Tuju was reported missing under unfavourable conditions on Sunday, March 23, 2026, and this issue raised eyebrows among the people, and speculation was widespread throughout the nation.

Tuju surfaced on Monday, March 23, 2026, and the uncertainty was over, but a new question of what happened to him emerged.

Soon, after his re-emergence, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)confirmed to have arrested him as investigations were stepped in to look into how the incident took place.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said that initial evidence indicated that Tuju might not have left his home during the time that he was reported lost, and this further intensified the mysteries and led to calls to find out what exactly happened.