UNKNOWN STORY BEHIND THE TUJU–KAREN PROPERTY DISPUTE

The Tuju–Karen Property Dispute: A Timeline of Key Events.

A long-running legal and financial battle over prime real estate in Nairobi’s upscale Karen area has pitted businessman and former politician Raphael Tuju (through his company Dari Limited) against the East African Development Bank (EADB) over an unpaid loan. The dispute, which began with a 2015 financing arrangement, has involved international court judgments, multiple Kenyan court rulings, attempted auctions, injunctions, and recent volatile confrontations. Below is a factual chronology based on documented developments.

2015–2018: Loan Origination and Default.

On 10 April 2015, Dari Limited entered into a loan facility agreement with the EADB for USD 9.3 million. The funds were intended for property acquisition and development in Karen, including the Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary and associated assets. The loan’s grace period ended in 2017–2018, after which defaults triggered the accumulation of interest and enforcement costs.

2019–2023: Judgments and Failed Appeals

A London court delivered judgment on 19 June 2019 ordering repayment of the outstanding debt. The foreign judgment was later recognised and registered in the Kenyan courts. Tuju pursued various legal avenues to protect the properties, but on appeal the Supreme Court of Kenya in 2023 dismissed his application to introduce additional evidence aimed at halting the planned auction.

2024: Auction Notice and Initial Sale.

On 24 July 2024, auctioneers served a 45-day statutory notice demanding payment of approximately KSh 4.5 billion or the sale of the Karen properties on 1 October 2024. The auction proceeded on the scheduled date: Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary and the Dari Coffee & Garden Restaurant were sold, with the restaurant reportedly fetching KSh 450 million.

October 2024 – May 2025: Court Blocks and Injunctions.

Barely a month later, on 29 October 2024, the High Court intervened and blocked a further planned auction that same day. The judge halted the forced sale pending determination of disputes over the properties’ true market value.

Allegations surfaced on 18 February 2025 that a title transfer had occurred in breach of an existing court protection order, prompting fresh legal challenges.

 On 6–7 May 2025 the High Court extended protective injunctions over Tuju’s Karen estate and suspended any auction until 24 June 2025 while litigation continued.

March 2026: High Court Ruling Opens Door to Enforcement.

Between 9 and 10 March 2026 the High Court struck out Tuju’s latest application to prevent the auction. All interim orders blocking the sale were lifted, clearing the legal path for the bank and auctioneers to resume enforcement proceedings.

Early March 2026: Escalation on the Ground.

Reports emerged in early March 2026 of volatile confrontations at the property, including attempted evictions and raids as enforcement teams moved in.

12–14 March 2026: Public Condemnation and Allegations.

On 12–14 March 2026 Tuju publicly denounced the raids, wrote open letters to national leaders, and alleged improper conduct by enforcement agents together with claims of judicial bribery. Tensions around the Karen properties remain high as the dispute heads toward possible further auctions and continued court action.

The Tuju–Karen matter illustrates the complex intersection of commercial debt recovery, foreign judgments, Kenyan property law, and high-stakes litigation. As of 14 March 2026, no final resolution has been reached; the properties remain under threat of additional enforcement while legal teams on both sides prepare for the next phase of proceedings.