Staff at former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s Dari Business Park along Ngong Road in Karen held a Sunday service outside the premises as the ongoing controversy surrounding the property intensified.
About two-dozen employees set up chairs along the fence of the compound, gathering to worship in an improvised open-air service.
A video circulating on social media showed the staff singing praise songs and listening to a Bible reading, replicating the atmosphere of a church service despite being outside the business park.
The property dispute has been at the centre of a protracted legal battle involving a multi-billion-shilling loan and repeated attempts by lenders to auction the prime real estate.
The dispute dates back to 2015 when Tuju, through his company Dari Limited, obtained a loan of approximately Sh943.9 million from the East African Development Bank (EADB) to fund a commercial real estate project in Nairobi.
While the loan had a set repayment period, the bank later alleged that the terms were not honoured, prompting legal action to recover the funds.
On Saturday, prominent political figures visited the Dari Business Park premises to show support for Tuju.
ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga, together with MPs Otiende Amolo (Rarieda) and Babu Owino (Embakasi East), called on the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to review the continued police presence at the facility.
Addressing the media at the gate of the business park, Otiende described the police deployment as questionable in the absence of a court order.
“We have come here in support of Tuju. He is not just my predecessor but also from my constituency. I am his lawyer,” Otiende said.
“Whatever decision the court makes, we will respect. In the meantime, there is no order authorising police presence here. When there is no such order, it leaves the owner with limited options. I want to appeal to the police to follow the proper procedures until a court order is issued.”
Babu also expressed concern over the early-morning deployment of officers. “I am here to show support for Tuju and to urge the authorities to respect due process,” he said, emphasising that the situation could cause confusion and tension if not addressed properly.
The tension stems from an incident on Friday night, when Tuju claimed that a large contingent of police personnel entered his property without a court order. In a video seen by The Star, Tuju alleged that more than 50 officers arrived in seven police vehicles and occupied the compound.
“They have kicked out my guards and security. They have occupied my facility by force,” Tuju said, adding that the officers refused to identify themselves or explain the reason for their presence. “I am not going to leave this place. They will have to kill me first because they have no court order. It is not lawful for them to come to my premises at this time and force me out.”
