From KTN to Kibaki and Uhuru’s Cabinets: The Rise of Raphael Tuju

Raphael Tuju has lived a public life that few Kenyans experience, starting out as a television news anchor, later moving into politics, and going on to serve in the Cabinet under two presidents.

Over the years, he has remained a familiar name in national discussions, known for his communication skills and ability to stay relevant as politics changed.

Many Kenyans first learned of Tuju on television in the early days of private broadcasting. Years later, he would be sitting at the Cabinet table during the Kibaki and Uhuru administrations, while also building business interests that drew public attention.

After finishing secondary school, Tuju went abroad for further studies. He joined the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, where he earned a master’s degree in mass communications.

This education prepared him for a career in journalism and later helped him handle public communication roles in government.

Raphael Tuju was born on March 30, 1959. As of March 24, 2026, he is 66 years old. He belongs to a generation of leaders who grew up as Kenya moved from single‑party rule to multiparty politics, a period that shaped both his media work and political career.

Raphel Tuju Education Background and Career

Tuju began his schooling in western Kenya. He attended Majiwa Primary School and Nakuru West Primary School before joining Starehe Boys’ Centre and School, a prestigious academic institution that has produced many leaders in public service, media, and business.

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Raphael Tuju began his career in the media at a time when television journalism was still emerging in Kenya. He first worked at the state broadcaster, then known as Voice of Kenya, which later became KBC, before moving to Kenya Television Network (KTN), owned by the The Standard Group, soon after it started broadcasting in 1990.

At KTN, Tuju became one of the station’s first news anchors. His calm presentation and clear delivery quickly made him a well‑known face on television. He played a role in shaping KTN’s early image and became one of the most recognisable journalists of that period.

Apart from reading the news, Tuju also worked behind the scenes. In the early 1990s, he started Ace Communications, a company that produced documentaries, public education programmes, and communication campaigns for international organisations and corporate clients. Some of this work received international recognition, raising his profile beyond Kenya.

Entry into politics

In 2002, Tuju transitioned from the media into politics, contesting the Rarieda parliamentary seat and winning, joining Parliament as part of the National Rainbow Coalition’s victory that ended KANU’s long-held power.

During President Mwai Kibaki’s administration, he served as Minister for Information and Communications, Minister for Tourism and Wildlife, and later Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Tuju remained an MP until 2007, when he lost his seat. Even after that loss, he continued to work closely with the government.

After the 2007 elections, Tuju served as a presidential adviser, primarily handling media and public communication matters. He later returned to active politics during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure.

In 2017, Tuju joined the Jubilee Party and was elected Secretary General, a position that put him in charge of party administration and public communication during a tense political period.

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He later served as Cabinet Secretary without Portfolio during Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term, staying in government until 2022. Ahead of the general election that year, he also worked with the Azimio la Umoja coalition secretariat.

Raphael Tuju’s Net Worth