Raphael Tuju's defiant standoff with EADB over Sh4.5 billion debt escalates
A dramatic standoff unfolded at Dari Business Park in Karen after more than 50 officers from the Rapid Response Unit stormed the premises. The operation, part of a debt recovery effort by the East African Development Bank (EADB), saw staff forcibly removed and gates sealed. Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has vowed to resist eviction, declaring that auctioneers would have to 'kill him first' before removing him from the property.
The conflict stems from a Sh1.5 billion loan granted to Tuju by the EADB, which the bank claims he defaulted on. The financial institution is now pursuing the recovery of over Sh4.5 billion through the sale of charged properties, including two in Karen and Dari Business Park itself. Courts have repeatedly upheld the legality of the debt recovery process, with the Supreme Court dismissing Tuju's appeal in 2023. Justices ruled that he had failed to provide evidence supporting his claims.
The High Court recently struck out an application by Dari Limited and Tuju seeking to block the auction. Justice Mong'are criticised the move as 'a blatant abuse of court process,' accusing Tuju of attempting to delay lawful recovery efforts after years of default and litigation. In response, a grassroots human rights movement has condemned the forced auction, calling it punitive rather than just. Mtetezi National Convenor Francis Awino argued that no Kenyan should lose their livelihood in such a manner, regardless of political ties. The movement claims the process amounts to persecution, not justice.
The auction of Tuju's properties is proceeding after multiple legal setbacks for the former Cabinet Secretary. With courts confirming the debt recovery as lawful, the EADB's efforts to recoup over Sh4.5 billion appear set to continue. The standoff at Dari Business Park highlights the escalating tensions between Tuju, the bank, and activists opposing the seizure.
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