ODM leaders visit Tuju’s Dari Business Park, condemn police presence
ODM leaders Gladys Wanga, Otiende Amollo and Babu Owino on Saturday visited the contested Dari Business Park premises in Karen in a show of solidarity with former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju.
The leaders condemned the continued police presence at the multi-billion-shilling property and called on Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja to immediately withdraw officers stationed at the facility.
Speaking to the media at the gate of the business park, Rarieda MP Amollo termed the deployment of police at the premises without a court order an act of impunity.
“We have come here in solidarity with Tuju. He is not just my predecessor but also my constituent. He comes from my constituency and I am his lawyer,” Amollo said.
“Whatever decision the court will make we will respect. In the meantime, there is no order allowing police to be here.”
He urged the police to respect the law and withdraw until a court order is issued, warning that such actions could fuel lawlessness.
Embakasi East MP Owino described the early morning deployment of armed officers at the premises as a political witch-hunt allegedly orchestrated by the government.
“I am here to stand in solidarity with Tuju. What he is going through is sad. This is a witch-hunt and political persecution,” Owino said.
“It is very unfair for someone to be subjected to this. There are different ways of resolving disputes, and Tuju deserves the right to a fair hearing.”
Wanga did not address the media during the visit.
The politicians were joined by Safina Party leader Jimmy Wanjigi and law professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba.
Wanjigi likened the takeover of the premises to an attempted land grab by powerful individuals.
“Tuju is not complaining because he has a bank loan. He is complaining because there is clear injustice being perpetrated,” Wanjigi said.
“This is a land grab. There is no way you can deploy so many police officers over a bank loan. We are going to stand by Raphael Tuju.”
Tuju also addressed the media, claiming that the Executive had a hand in the dispute surrounding his property.
“Tenants have been chased away. This is a high level of impunity. Bars and other businesses make most of their income over the weekend, yet they have been locked out,” Tuju said.
“I am unable to understand what is happening. This appears to be an Executive decision. They have no court order for evictions to come and do what they are doing.”