Tuju reprieve after court bail ruling
National
By
Standard Team
| Mar 25, 2026
(L) Prosecutor Victor Owiti with Raphael Tuju's Lawyer Kalonzo Musyoka at Kibera Law Courts on March 24, 2026.[Boniface Okendo, Standard]
The High Court in Nairobi yesterday granted former Rarieda MP Raphael Tuju a reprieve, allowing him bail ahead of any formal charges.
Justice Martin Muya ordered the embattled politician to deposit Sh200,000 to secure his release, even as the plea-taking was aborted after he fell ill at Karen Police Station.
“Applicants are hereby admitted on an anticipatory bond of Sh200,000 with one surety each, or a cash bail of a similar amount,” ruled Justice Muya.
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Tuju moved to court alongside Louiza Korros, who alleged that police had brutalised him, leading to his admission to hospital. After plea-taking, slated to be before Kibera Magistrate Stella Atambo, failed as he had been taken ill, the former Rarieda MP swiftly moved to the Milimani High Court, arguing that the continued police presence at his hospital bed is unlawful and infringes on his rights to medical care and dignity.
“That this court be pleased to issue an order directing the IG, DCI and DPP, their agents and or servants, to immediately cease from maintaining any physical presence or guard over the 1st Applicant at his hospital bed, and to allow him to receive medical treatment free from unlawful restraint, intimidation, or custodial,” his court papers read in part.
At Kibera, his lawyers told the court that he was seriously ill. Led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, the legal team said Tuju’s condition worsened while in custody.
Tuju had been expected to appear at Kibera Law Courts to face a charge of giving false information to Chief Inspector Purity Kobia of Karen Police Station. His lawyers accused police of ‘abducting’ him outside Karen Police Station.
“We spent the whole afternoon yesterday pleading with officers at Karen Police Station, reinforced by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. As senior counsel, I witnessed what I consider an abduction outside the station,” said Kalonzo.
Victor Owiti, for the prosecution, said that the court had powers to proceed with the charges even without Tuju.
The Kibera court will decide his fate this afternoon.
“This court has jurisdiction whether or not the accused is present. One of the innovative inclusions of the Constitution is that the matter can proceed in the absence of an accused person,” he argued.
He confirmed that Tuju was in the hospital, adding that the viability and defects of the charge sheet can only happen in the presence of Tuju.
Owiti said that they do not intend to oppose Tuju being freed on bail, proposing that the court allows him to be treated and as soon as he is well, he appears before the court.
The Kibera court will decide his fate today in the afternoon.