Ogunda was trespasser, says Tuju

Former minister Raphael Tuju on Monday told police that his wife’s lover Tony Ogunda, who was found dead in his house, was not supposed to be there in the first place.

He said: “There was an existing court order that barred him (Mr Ogunda) from going to any of my premises and it’s unfortunate his death occurred at my premises.”

Mr Tuju was summoned to Nairobi’s Kilimani Police Station on Monday and had his statement recorded.

Mr Ogunda was found dead at a house off Matumbatu Road in Upper Hill on Tuesday last week.

“I have also confirmed that when it happened I was in Johannesburg, South Africa, on business. When I heard about it, I gave instructions to my employees who work there to cooperate with the police. My children, especially my daughters, have been greatly affected. It has been a wilderness for me and my family,” he said after the session with the police.

He arrived at the station at 10.45am and left shortly after 1pm.

Police have so far quizzed 12 people over Mr Ogunda’s death, which pathologists said was caused by injuries inflicted with a blunt object.

Detectives are holding Mr Cosmas Okoth, a nephew of the former minister’s wife Ruth Akinyi, who was arrested on Thursday last week and presented in court the following day.

Pending court cases

Ms Tabitha Wangari Kimani, who police said is Mr Okoth’s girlfriend, was also questioned and her statement recorded.

She told the police that she was with Mr Ogunda and Mr Okoth at a bar earlier on the fateful night.

Mr Tuju also said that there are three pending court cases pitting him against Mr Ogunda.

In one case, he is seeking to divorce his estranged wife.

Mr Tuju said: “I confirmed that Mr Okoth is a nephew of my wife. I actually brought him up. I paid his school fees over the years since he is an orphan. I also confirmed that he was living at my premises with my permission.”

He added: “Whatever question, I have answered at the police. The matter is in the hands of investigators and I don’t want to speculate and would want to give police the space to do their investigations.”

Investigators have also taken statements from Ms Sabina Anyango, Mrs Tuju and Mr Okoth. Ms Anyango is Mrs Tuju’s sister and works at the premises.

The premises are a complex comprising residential houses. The Kenya Hope Foundation, which Mr Tuju runs, is located at the complex. (READ: Tuju's wife questioned in Ogunda death probe)