Tuesday, March 17,
2026 - Former Cabinet Secretary and ex-Rarieda MP, Rafael
Tuju, has
opened up about the sacrifices that shaped his property journey, even as he now
faces the threat of losing his prime Nairobi assets to auction.
In an interview with NTV on March 17th, Tuju
recalled how, at just 27 years old, he made his first bold step into real
estate by purchasing land in Karen nearly four decades ago.
“The first time I bought land in Karen was 40 years ago, and
it was Ksh100,000 per acre. I took a loan from the National Bank.”
“The minimum you could buy in Karen at that time was
Ksh250,000. I took a loan of Ksh180,000,” Tuju explained.
To raise the balance, Tuju sold his only car, returning to
public transport as he prioritized land ownership over personal comfort.
“The other Ksh60,000 I raised by selling the car I had at
that time. This prompted me to go from owning a car back to a matatu,” he said.
That sacrifice, he noted, became a turning point, eventually
leading him to acquire prime parcels in Karen and Upper Hill, now among
Nairobi’s most valuable locations.
Years later, Tuju expanded his portfolio with a 20-acre
Karen property, financed in 2015 through a Ksh1.2 billion loan.
The investment supported high-end residential and
hospitality projects, but the financing has since spiraled into a nine-year
debt dispute with the bank, estimated between Ksh1.9 billion
and Ksh2.2 billion.
Tuju now faces eviction and auction threats, which he claims
are politically orchestrated.
Still, he insists he is willing to settle the debt, provided
transparency is upheld.
“I have not refused to pay. I only ask for fairness,” he
stated.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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