A high-stakes property dispute has taken a dramatic turn in Kenya, with the transfer of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s Sh450m Karen property temporarily halted by the High Court. The court’s order, issued on an undisclosed date, comes as Mr. Tuju seeks to challenge the auction sale of his property to Ultra Eureka Limited. The dispute centers around a Sh1.9bn debt row, with the buyer defending the purchase. The development has left Mr. Tuju’s future uncertain, as heavily armed security officers have already sealed off the Dari Business Park, where the property is located.
Tuju’s Sh450m Property Deal Sparks Controversy
| Event | Transfer of Tuju’s Karen property halted |
| Date | April 7, 2025 |
| Location | Karen, Nairobi |
| Key People/Organizations involved | Raphael Tuju, Ultra Eureka Limited, East African Development Bank (EADB), Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) |
| Status/Current Situation | Temporarily halted |
| Official Response | High Court order |
| Amount | Sh450 million |
| Loan Facility | $2.5 million (Sh324 million) |
| Auction Date | October 2024 |
The transfer of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s Karen property has been temporarily halted by the High Court, offering him a reprieve as he seeks to challenge the auction sale. The court directed that the title remain untouched pending the determination of the application, with the matter scheduled for hearing on April 7, 2025. This development comes as the dispute between Mr Tuju and the buyer continues to play out in court.
The buyer, Ultra Eureka Limited, has defended the purchase, insisting it was acquired lawfully through a public auction conducted by the East African Development Bank (EADB) in October 2024. According to the company, it charged the property’s title to Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) in March 2025 to secure a $2.5 million (Sh324 million) loan facility. The company’s director, Jackson Kiplimo Chebett, said the transaction followed a competitive public auction and that the buyer fully paid the agreed purchase price of Sh450 million.
Ultra Eureka Limited has taken over the property, having become the landlord of the business premises, and has already written to tenants informing them of the change in ownership. The company’s move is seen as a significant development in the ongoing dispute between Mr Tuju and the buyer, with the court’s decision to halt the transfer of the property title adding a new layer of complexity to the case.
Armed Security Seals Off Dari Business Park
Armed Security Seals Off Dari Business Park
The transfer of former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s Karen property has been temporarily halted by the High Court, offering him a reprieve as he seeks to challenge the auction sale. The court directed that the title remain untouched pending the determination of the application, with the matter scheduled for hearing on April 7, 2025. This move effectively freezes any changes to ownership, as the dispute between Mr Tuju and the buyer continues to play out in court.
The buyer of Mr Tuju’s Karen property, Ultra Eureka Limited, has defended the purchase, insisting it was acquired lawfully through a public auction conducted by the East African Development Bank (EADB) in October 2024. The company paid Sh450 million for the prime Nairobi property, which was previously owned by companies associated with Mr Tuju. According to Ultra Eureka Limited, the transaction followed a competitive public auction and the buyer fully paid the agreed purchase price.
Ultra Eureka Limited has also disclosed that after acquiring the land in February 2025, it charged the property’s title to Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) the following month to secure a $2.5 million (Sh324 million) loan facility. The company has already taken over the property and has written to tenants informing them of the change in ownership.
What’s Behind the Halt in Property Transfer?
The High Court has temporarily halted any transfer or assignment of the title to former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s Karen property, offering him a reprieve as he seeks to challenge the auction sale. The court directed that the title remain untouched pending the determination of the application, with the matter scheduled for hearing on April 7, 2025.
The buyer of Mr. Tuju’s Karen property, Ultra Eureka Limited, has defended the purchase, insisting it was acquired lawfully through a public auction conducted by the East African Development Bank (EADB) in October 2024. The company disclosed that after acquiring the land in February 2025, it charged the property’s title to Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) the following month to secure a $2.5 million (Sh324 million) loan facility. The company legally bought the prime Nairobi property for Sh450 million after the EADB exercised its statutory power of sale over land previously owned by companies associated with Mr. Tuju.
In a replying affidavit, the firm’s director, Jackson Kiplimo Chebett, said the transaction followed a competitive public auction and that the buyer fully paid the agreed purchase price. The company is now the landlord of the business premises, having taken over the property last week, and has already written to tenants informing them of the change in ownership.
Tuju’s Response to the Halted Property Transfer
Raphael Tuju has responded to the halted transfer of his Karen property, defending the sale as lawful. The former Cabinet Secretary has been seeking to challenge the auction sale, but the High Court has temporarily halted any transfer or assignment of the title pending the determination of the application. The matter is scheduled for hearing on April 7, 2025.
Tuju’s property was sold to Ultra Eureka Limited for Sh450 million after the East African Development Bank (EADB) exercised its statutory power of sale over land previously owned by companies associated with Mr Tuju. The buyer has defended the purchase, insisting it was acquired lawfully through a public auction conducted by the EADB in October 2024. Ultra Eureka Limited has also disclosed that after acquiring the land in February 2025, it charged the property’s title to Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) the following month to secure a $2.5 million (Sh324 million) loan facility.
In a replying affidavit, the firm’s director, Jackson Kiplimo Chebett, said the transaction followed a competitive public auction and that the buyer fully paid the agreed purchase price. He said his company is now the landlord of the business premises, having taken over the property last week, and has already written to tenants informing them of the change in ownership.
Investigation into the Property Dispute
The High Court has temporarily halted any transfer or assignment of the title to former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju’s Karen property. The court directed that the title remain untouched pending the determination of the application, with the matter scheduled for hearing on April 7, 2025. This order temporarily freezes changes to ownership as the dispute between Mr Tuju and the buyer continues to play out in court.
Ultra Eureka Limited, the buyer of Mr Tuju’s Karen property, has defended the purchase, insisting it was acquired lawfully through a public auction conducted by the East African Development Bank (EADB) in October 2024. The company disclosed that after acquiring the land in February 2025, it charged the property’s title to Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) the following month to secure a $2.5 million (Sh324 million) loan facility. The company’s director, Jackson Kiplimo Chebett, said the transaction followed a competitive public auction and that the buyer fully paid the agreed purchase price of Sh450 million.
The company has also informed the High Court that it is now the landlord of the business premises, having taken over the property last week, and has already written to tenants informing them of the change in ownership. The move is a significant development in the ongoing dispute between Mr Tuju and Ultra Eureka Limited, with the former seeking to challenge the auction sale and the latter defending its purchase.
Market Impact and Government Response
The market impact of the halted transfer of Raphael Tuju’s Karen property remains uncertain, with the dispute between the former Cabinet Secretary and the buyer, Ultra Eureka Limited, set to continue in court. The temporary freeze on the property’s title has sparked concerns among investors and businesses operating in the prime Nairobi location. The property, valued at Sh450 million, was acquired by Ultra Eureka Limited through a public auction conducted by the East African Development Bank (EADB) in October 2024.
The government has yet to respond to the controversy surrounding the property transfer, with the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) also involved in the dispute. Ultra Eureka Limited has charged the property’s title to KCB to secure a $2.5 million (Sh324 million) loan facility, further complicating the situation. The government’s stance on the matter is expected to be clarified as the case unfolds in court. The High Court has scheduled a hearing for April 7, 2025, to determine the application and resolve the dispute.
What’s Next for Tuju and the Buyer?
The buyer of Raphael Tuju’s Karen property, Ultra Eureka Limited, has defended the purchase, insisting it was acquired lawfully through a public auction conducted by the East African Development Bank (EADB) in October 2024. The company has disclosed that after acquiring the land in February 2025, it charged the property’s title to Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) the following month to secure a $2.5 million (Sh324 million) loan facility.
In a replying affidavit, the firm’s director, Jackson Kiplimo Chebett, said the transaction followed a competitive public auction and that the buyer fully paid the agreed purchase price of Sh450 million. This is in contrast to Tuju’s claims that the sale was unlawful. The company has now taken over the property and has informed tenants of the change in ownership.
The court’s temporary halt on the transfer or assignment of the title to Tuju’s Karen property offers him a reprieve as he seeks to challenge the auction sale. The matter is scheduled for hearing on April 7, 2025. The outcome of this hearing will determine the future of the property, which is currently valued at Sh450 million.
Source: Business Daily
