Former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s Dari Coffee and Garden Restaurant was auctioned on 1 October for Sh450 million, according to reports.
Situated in the affluent Karen suburb, the 6.9-acre luxurious hotel was a favoured venue for upscale events and fine dining, renowned for its manicured gardens and spacious conference facilities.
Garam Auctioneers conducted the sale but the identity of the new owner is yet to be announced, with sources suggesting the former CS, who once served as MP for Rarieda, may be contemplating challenging the sale in court.
Tuju is also embroiled in another battle to save another valuable asset – the Garden Restaurant and Entim Sidai.
The loss of the Dari property is a major setback for the former Jubilee Party Secretary General, who owns extensive commercial real estate in the affluent Karen estate, and who is currently in a fight of his life as he battles to retain his multi-billion estate in Karen.
Tuju’s legal issues date back to 2015 when he acquired a multi-million dollar loan from the East African Development Bank (EADB) for the purchase of a 20-acre parcel of land intended for housing and hospitality development, which is alleged to have defaulted to pay.
The former CS contends that the bank has declined several payment plans he has proposed, arguing in court that his properties are currently valued at Sh4.2 billion, which is way beyond the bank’s debt.
