A police officer who received former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s alleged abduction report has told a Nairobi court that she was shocked to find her name listed in the charge sheet against him.
Chief Inspector Purity Kobia, who was attached to Karen Police Station when Tuju made the report, said she had no idea why she had been included in the case.
“I don’t know how my name came there. I didn’t write it, and even I got scared when I saw my name on the charge sheet,” Kobia told the court.
She was testifying as a prosecution witness in the case in which Tuju is accused of giving false information concerning an alleged abduction in March 2026.
Tuju Abduction Case Takes New Turn In Court ¶
Kobia told Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo that she was performing her normal duties when Tuju approached her at Etim Sidai.
The officer said she had earlier been instructed by the OCPD to alert hotels and shopping malls about a security threat and advise their managers to remain vigilant.
She visited several establishments before proceeding to Etim Sidai, where Tuju was staying.
Tuju Told Officer He Was Being Followed ¶
Kobia said she was speaking to the security officer at the hotel when Tuju approached them and informed them that he wanted to report an incident to the police.
She asked him what the report concerned.
According to Kobia, Tuju told her that on Friday, March 20, 2026, a white Land Cruiser had followed him as he travelled from the hotel.
She said Tuju told her that he stopped at Dari after noticing several police officers in the area.
Police Sergeant Recorded The Complaint ¶
After hearing Tuju’s account, Kobia instructed a police sergeant to take his details and record the complaint.
An entry was subsequently made in the police occurrence book.
Kobia told the court that her role was to receive the report and ensure it was formally recorded before investigators took further action.
She did not, however, personally investigate whether Tuju’s account was truthful.
Tuju’s Vehicle Was Later Found Abandoned ¶
The court heard that the police response escalated after the officer was informed that Tuju’s vehicle had been found abandoned.
Kobia said the deputy OCS informed her that officers had searched the area and established that the vehicle belonged to the former Cabinet Secretary.
She later went to the scene with her deputy, who was the duty officer at the time.
They found the vehicle with its hazard lights still on but without Tuju inside.
Police Could Not Reach Tuju ¶
Kobia said she attempted to contact Tuju by phone but could not get through.
The officers then contacted his son, Emmanuel Tuju.
According to Kobia, Emmanuel said he was in church and told the officers that he had not seen his father for about one or two weeks.
The testimony formed part of the prosecution’s evidence concerning the events that followed Tuju’s original report.
Officer Says She Could Not Know If Tuju Lied ¶
During cross-examination, Kobia maintained that receiving public complaints and ensuring they were recorded was part of her responsibility.
She rejected any suggestion that she could determine whether Tuju’s account was true or false simply because she had received the complaint.
“I don’t know if he was lying or not,” she told the court.
She stressed that she was not present when the alleged incident occurred.
Kobia Questions Why She Was Charged ¶
The officer returned to the issue of the charge sheet during cross-examination.
Kobia maintained that she did not prepare the document and did not know how her name came to be included.
Her evidence therefore placed her role in the case primarily around receiving and facilitating the recording of Tuju’s report.
The court will have to consider the significance of her evidence alongside testimony from other prosecution witnesses.
Three Prosecution Witnesses Testify ¶
The prosecution presented three witnesses during the day’s proceedings as it continued building its case against Tuju.
The hearing focused on the report he allegedly made and the police response after his vehicle was found abandoned.
Tuju has denied the charges arising from the alleged false abduction report.
Court To Weigh Evidence Against Tuju ¶
The case is now turning on what Tuju reported, how police responded and whether investigators can establish that the information he provided was deliberately false.
Kobia’s testimony does not determine whether the alleged abduction occurred or whether Tuju knowingly provided false information.
Her evidence instead establishes the circumstances under which the report was received and recorded.
The court will ultimately determine whether the prosecution has proved its case against the former Cabinet Secretary.
