Police in Kisumu have launched investigations to establish the motive behind a brazen attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi at a local restaurant on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Osotsi was attacked by a group of hooded assailants.
Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo confirmed that the attackers stormed the establishment and assaulted the senator. The reason behind the attack remains unclear.
“I may not know what transpired, but after reviewing the footage, it is evident that the attackers moved as a group. There are claims circulating on social media suggesting a love triangle, but we are yet to establish the motive. The matter is now under investigation by the DCI,” said Mr Leparmorijo.
He added that the conduct of the senator’s bodyguard will also come under scrutiny. The officer neither reacted nor discharged his firearm during the incident.
The midday assault, carried out at a coffee house in Kisumu, left Mr Osotsi injured, and he had to be rushed to Aga Khan Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Mr Osotsi was reportedly accosted shortly after midday, in what is widely suspected to have been a politically instigated attack.
According to his Director of Communications, Derick Luvega, the senator was ambushed by a group of armed goons.
Earlier, Mr Osotsi had made a routine visit to Westend Mall for personal grooming before proceeding to the restaurant, where he met a friend and spent close to half an hour engaging with members of the public before a group of men confronted him, questioning his political stance, before descending on him with kicks and blows.
“They demanded to know why he was against President William Ruto’s re-election. The senator’s security detail, who was present, exercised restraint to avoid discharging firearms in a public setting, which could have resulted in grave harm to innocent civilians,” said Mr Luvega.
CCTV footage from the restaurant, seen by the Daily Nation, captures the chilling sequence: the senator repeatedly being hit by his hooded assailants.
He struggles to regain his footing, only to be thrown against furniture as stunned attendants look on, some appearing to plead helplessly for the violence to stop.
Mr Luvega condemned the attack as “barbaric and cowardly”, asserting that it bore the hallmarks of premeditation.
He, however, cautioned against casting aspersions on the people of Kisumu, noting that the city has long been defined by warmth and hospitality, evident in the senator’s free movement and cordial interactions prior to the incident.
He urged the National Police Service to carry out a thorough investigation, pointing to the restaurant’s CCTV footage as a crucial lead. “The rule of law must prevail, and those behind this heinous act must be held accountable,” he said.
Viewer discretion: CCTV shows moment unknown men attacked Senator Osotsi
Mr Osotsi was initially treated at Aga Khan Hospital before being flown to Nairobi for further medical care.
While no arrests have been made, Mr Leparmorijo indicated that investigators are pursuing promising leads.
“We have credible information and some suspects have been identified, but no arrests have been effected yet. We want to assure the public that such incidents will not be tolerated. Everyone is free to move without harassment. We will pursue those responsible and take decisive action,” he said.
Leaders from across the political spectrum have since condemned the assault, many maintaining that it bore clear signs of political provocation.
Siaya Governor James Orengo, rushed to Kisumu to visit Mr Osotsi. Speaking to the media at Kisumu International Airport, Mr Orengo revealed that the senator sustained head injuries.
“This is an unfortunate incident that has happened to Osotsi. His face is disfigured following the attack. This is making Kisumu a small Haiti, where thugs rule the city in broad daylight while the police are aware,” said Mr Orengo.
He noted that this was not the first time Mr Osotsi had faced hostility in Kisumu, citing previous attempts to attack him and members of the Linda Mwananchi brigade at the airport, during a rally in Kakamega, and at a press conference in one of the city’s hotels.
Mr Orengo further alleged that a known individual, familiar to the police, had been mobilising youths.
He challenged Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to act swiftly in arresting those responsible, warning that such incidents tarnish the image of the government.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathew Owili condemned the attack, describing it as cowardly, criminal and unacceptable.
“This attack, carried out by individuals whose identities remain unknown, is not only an assault on a leader but an attack on the very fabric of civility, tolerance and peaceful coexistence that defines our county. Kisumu is, and shall remain, a bastion of order, dignity and respect for human rights,” said Dr Owili.
He called on the police and all relevant security agencies to act with urgency and precision to investigate the incident, apprehend those responsible, and ensure they face the full force of the law.
The leadership of Kisumu County reiterated that, in the spirit of true democracy, every individual is entitled to hold and express their views, however divergent, without fear of intimidation, harassment or violence.
“Divergence of views is not a justification for lawlessness. It is a cornerstone of democratic engagement and must be accommodated with tolerance and respect at all times. Those who imagine they can undermine peace and stability through acts of brutality are gravely mistaken,” said Dr Owili.
