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Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju has been rushed to the Karen Hospital after his health reportedly deteriorated at the Karen Police station where he was being held before arraignment in court.

Tuju was expected to appear at the Kibera Law Courts where he was to face one charge of giving false information to Chief Inspector Purity Kobia of Karen Police Station that he was being trailed by unknown persons.

His battery of lawyers told court that he is seriously ill.

Led by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, the lawyers claimed that he was on the verge of death at the station.

While making their submissions before Magistrate Stella Atambo, the lawyers accused police of abducting the former Rarieda MP outside the Karen station.

His other lawyers are DAP Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo, Edward Oonge, Ndegwa Njiru, Duncan Okatch, and Lempaa Suyianka.

“We spent the whole of afternoon yesterday trying to plead with police at Karen Police Station who were strengthened by the officers from Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and as a senior counsel I witnessed abduction outside Karen police station,” said Musyoka.

“And all we were trying to say was that Raphael Tuju has been a recovering patient following a terrible road accident but I must thank the Investigations Officer because he allowed doctors from Karen Hospital to come examine him inside the police cell.”

According to him, Tuju’s sugar levels were dangerously low, something which he claimed was confirmed by doctors from the hospital.

“Upon examination, what made me lose my cool which I rarely do is when the doctors said the sugar level was at 1.9 and that basically meant, Mr. Tuju we could lose him because of the low sugar level. All this arose because of the attack outside the police station,” he added.

Kalonzo also claimed that the Investigating Officer had allegedly assured them that Tuju was not under arrest but to their amazement the station became an abduction scene.

“Some of my colleagues such as Patrick Lumumba were not allowed in. There was a gentleman who was very aggresive. I think he is Mr Kandie, regional DCI in charge and Mr Mahamoud, from Karen, very aggressive,” said Kalonzo.

He further claimed that the two officers forcefully put Tuju inside a Subaru vehicle and this was the cause of his alleged suffering

“I believe that is why he is not in court here when he was called. We pleaded how do ask a doctor to examine a patient inside a police station? There was no light, they allowed doctors to stay overnight to ensure Mr. Tuju’s life was preserved,” he also claimed.

Kalonzo is of the view that the current drama should not be happening in a democratic country describing it as brute force and wants Magistrate Atambo to adjourn the matter. 

 Ndegwa Njiru claimed that the police at Karen did not record Tuju’s presence saying they allegedly declined adding that Mr. Ombati, the regional CCIO knew about the request but it allegedly never happened.

“The legal propriety of that charge, as we look for the way forward when an accused person was in the custody of the state and is not before you, there cannot be a charge before you,” he argued.

Njiru urged the court to grant him bail as he undergoes treatment while his other lawyer Edward Oonge suggested that Tuju should released on a free bond.