Political analyst Professor Mutahi Ngunyi has publicly urged former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju to directly engage President William Ruto as the most viable way out of mounting legal and political difficulties.
Ngunyi’s remarks, shared on social media on March 25 2026, frame a proactive phone call to the Head of State as pivotal to resolving Tuju’s current predicament.
“Dear Tuju: Ruto has asked you to become his real friend. And all your problems will go away. Just do it. Call him. You have his number,” Ngunyi wrote, emphasising what he described as an expressed desire by Ruto for a positive working relationship with the former Cabinet Secretary.
The analyst cautioned Tuju against leaning on opposition figures, specifically mentioning Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, suggesting they may not offer the substantive support Tuju needs amid his challenges.
Ngunyi also invoked historical and property disputes in his advice, urging Tuju to “fight on the right side of history,” a phrase that reflects the broader political context in which his turmoil has unfolded.
Tuju’s troubles have dominated national headlines in recent weeks. The former Jubilee Party secretary general was reported missing on March 21 after his vehicle was discovered abandoned in Karen, Nairobi, prompting public alarm over his whereabouts.
Authorities and Tuju’s family raised concerns about the circumstances of his disappearance before he resurfaced and later faced legal scrutiny.
President Ruto has weighed in on the controversy, urging restraint in how the situation is discussed publicly and dismissing claims that Tuju was abducted.
In remarks delivered during a public engagement, Ruto described narratives around the disappearance as misrepresentations and criticised political actors he said were attempting to exploit the episode for gain.
He also emphasised the need for “honest friends” around Tuju rather than figures he suggested might mislead him.
The broader context includes a legal battle over Tuju’s property interests and debts, with courts granting him anticipatory bail in a bid to shield him from arrest and detention by state agencies. Tuju’s legal team has argued that continued police presence at his hospital bedside — where he is receiving medical care — infringes on his rights.
Analysts are divided on Ngunyi’s intervention. Supporters of the call to engage directly with Ruto see it as pragmatic realpolitik aimed at de‑escalation and possible mitigation of legal exposure.
Others view it as underscoring enduring ethnic and partisan tensions in Kenyan politics, particularly ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
In this contested environment, how Tuju responds to Ngunyi’s advice — and whether he opens channels with the presidency — may shape both his personal fortunes and his political standing.