Raphael Tuju’s Karen property auction fails to attract qualified bidders

A scheduled auction of the 20.2-acre Entim Sidai Wellness Sanctuary in Karen, owned by former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju, failed to proceed on Tuesday. Garam Auctioneers closed the exercise after stating that prospective buyers present did not meet the necessary requirements, such as providing a deposit to demonstrate seriousness.

The attempted sale is part of a long-running legal dispute between Tuju’s company, Dari Limited, and the East African Development Bank (EADB) regarding a reported debt of between Sh4.5 billion and Sh1.9 billion.

Tuju has contested the auction, issuing a “buyer beware” notice and asserting that the property is subject to ongoing court proceedings in the Supreme Court, High Court, and the Auctioneers Tribunal. He maintained that Dari Limited had complied with a court order requiring a 50 million shilling security deposit to protect the property from being auctioned.