Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has sparked controversy with a bold pledge to defend former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s Karen property, describing it as a symbol of Luo enterprise in Nairobi and warning that any attempt to seize it would meet fierce resistance.
Kaluma’s comments follow a High Court ruling that allowed progress on the auction of Tuju’s prime Karen assets to recover a multi‑billion‑shilling loan, a legal dispute that has dominated Nairobi headlines this week.
In a statement, Kaluma said the Karen hotel and business premises — reportedly among the few high‑end commercial properties owned by a Luo national in the capital — must be protected “to the last drop of our blood, to our last generation.” He warned:
“Whoever thinks he can take this property should prepare to kill all Luos before that — let no one try eviction there again!”
His remarks drew sharp public attention for their intensity and incitement‑tinged language, coming as the legal battle over Tuju’s estates — including the Dari Business Park and associated commercial holdings — enters a critical phase.
The dispute centers on claims by East African Development Bank (EADB) that Tuju’s company, Dari Limited, defaulted on a loan secured against the properties.
In recent rulings, the High Court declined to halt action on the auction and lifted interim orders that had previously shielded the properties from sale, paving the way for enforcement by appointed auctioneers.
Tuju has publicly vowed to resist eviction, saying he will remain on the property and framing the auction process as premature while he seeks avenues to appeal the ruling.
His stance has heightened tensions around the legal proceedings.
Kaluma’s declaration, however, has attracted concern from legal analysts and civil society actors who view incendiary rhetoric as potentially undermining the rule of law in a commercial dispute.