Raphael Tuju
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 30, 1959 |
| FAMILY | Divorced to Ruth Akinyi, 3 Children |
| OCCUPATION | Politician, Journalist |
Raphael Tuju is a prominent Kenyan politician who has been featured in Kenya’s political landscape for over two decades.
Before venturing into politics, Tuju worked as a journalist in the Voice of Kenya (VOK), now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation(KBC) and KTN.
Political Career of Tuju
Tuju entered politics in 2002 when he vied for the parliamentary seat for Rarieda Constituency under the NARC coalition.
He won the seat in the December general elections and held it from 2002 until 2007, when he was defeated by engineer Nicholas Gumbo, who ran under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Tuju’s loss was largely attributed to his fallout with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who dominated Luo Nyanza politics and influenced the ODM wave.
Tuju had contested under the Party of National Unity (PNU), which was unpopular in the Nyanza region during the 2007 elections due to the overwhelming support for ODM.
During his tenure as Rarieda MP, Tuju served in various capacities in President Mwai Kibaki’s government.
After NARC came to power in 2003, he was appointed Minister of Information and Communications and later Minister for Tourism and Wildlife.
Between 2005 and 2007, he served as Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. In 2008, the late President Kibaki appointed him as his advisor on Media and Diversity Management, a role he held until 2011.
In 2012, Tuju announced his intention to vie for the presidency in the 2013 general elections under his newly launched Party of Action (POA).
However, he later rescinded his decision. In the run-up to the 2017 general elections, former President Uhuru Kenyatta approached Tuju to join the Jubilee Party, where he was elected as the party’s Secretary General.
During President Kenyatta’s second term, Tuju was appointed Cabinet Secretary without Portfolio, a position he held until the end of Kenyatta’s tenure in 2022.
In the run-up to the 2022 general elections, Tuju was appointed Executive Director of the Azimio la Umoja secretariat by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Against All Odds
Many have described Tuju as a man with “many lives” due to his resilience in the face of adversity.
On January 24, 2003, he was involved in a plane crash while heading to a homecoming party at then-Vice President Moody Awori’s home in Funyula to celebrate NARC’s victory in the 2002 elections.
The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Busia Airstrip when the aircraft hit a power line and crashed. Tuju survived but sustained serious injuries. Tragically, the accident claimed the lives of Labour Minister Mohammed Khalif and two pilots.
On February 12, 2020, Tuju was involved in a road accident on the Nairobi–Nakuru highway while traveling to Kabarak to attend the burial of the late President Daniel arap Moi. He survived the accident.
Education Background
Tuju holds a Master’s degree from the University of Leicester. He completed his high school education at Starehe Boys’ Centre and attended primary school at both Majiwa Primary School and Nakuru West Primary School.
Marriage Life
Tuju was married to Ruth Akinyi from 1986 until their divorce in 2013. Together, they have three children: two daughters and a son.
Other Activities Outside Politics
In the early 2000s, Tuju played a key role in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS through his then-communications company, Ace Communications. The company produced documentaries that educated the public about the virus.
Net Worth
The former Rarieda MP owns multibillion-shilling properties in Karen, including the renowned Dari Restaurant and prime land in the area.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news updates.
