A dramatic confrontation unfolded in Nairobi after former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju alleged that officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit stormed his Dari Business Park property in the middle of the night.
Tuju claimed the officers attacked him during a 3 AM incident as he tried to defend the contested land from what he described as a forceful takeover. The confrontation erupted just days after a High Court ruling cleared the way for auctioneers to proceed with actions that could see several of Tuju’s prime Karen properties sold.
The explosive allegations have now raised fresh questions about the role of security officers in a bitter multi-million-shilling property dispute.
Inside the 3AM Raid Linked to RDU at Tuju Property
Tuju claimed the confrontation occurred at his Dari Business Park along Ngong Road during the early hours of the morning.
According to him, officers believed to be from the Rapid Deployment Unit arrived at the property around 3AM and attempted to force their way in. Tuju said he resisted the move because the dispute over the land remains active in court, and he intends to appeal the recent ruling that went against him.
He argued that powerful interests are trying to seize the property before he exhausts all legal options.
Tuju insisted that the officers had no justification to storm the premises at night. He described the incident as intimidation meant to pressure him into surrendering the property. The former minister maintains that he will continue protecting the assets until the courts determine the appeal.
Tuju Claims Powerful Forces Want Karen Land Quickly
The dispute centers on several high-value properties linked to Tuju and his company, Dari Limited. One of the key assets is L.R. No. 1055/165, which hosts the well-known Tamarind restaurant at Dari Business Park along Ngong Road. Another contested property is L.R. No. 11320/3, home to Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary in Nairobi’s Karen area.
These properties sit in prime locations and are considered some of the most valuable commercial assets in the area. Tuju now claims that unnamed powerful players are pushing to take over the properties before the legal process runs its full course.
He warned that if the assets are auctioned or transferred before his appeal is heard, the entire appeal process could become meaningless.
Court Ruling Opens Door for Auctioneers
The escalating conflict follows a decision by the High Court earlier this week. Justice Josephine Wambui Mong’are declined to grant interim orders that would have stopped the execution of a previous ruling delivered on March 9, 2026.
That earlier ruling struck out Tuju’s amended plaint and removed court orders that had prevented the defendants from dealing with the disputed properties.
As a result, auctioneers, including Garam Investment Auctioneers and Knight Frank Kenya, are no longer restricted by court orders from taking action regarding the properties.
Tuju had returned to court on March 11 seeking urgent relief to stop the implementation of the ruling and to secure permission to appeal. He argued that the respondents could now auction or dispose of the assets in what he described as an irregular and unlawful process.
Appeal Battle Set for Next Court Mention
Although the court declined to issue temporary orders halting the execution of the ruling, it allowed Tuju to proceed with an appeal. Justice Mong’are certified the application as urgent but directed Tuju to serve the respondents before the case proceeds.
The judge also ordered that the matter be mentioned before the presiding judge of the division on March 17 for further directions. The legal battle now enters a critical stage as Tuju attempts to convince the court that his appeal raises serious legal questions.
For now, the dramatic allegations surrounding the RDU attacks at the Tuju property have added a new layer of tension to an already explosive property dispute in Nairobi’s high-value Karen area.
