What You Need to Know
Leaders in Kenya have condemned the violent attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi in Kisumu, calling for immediate police action. The senator was injured by armed assailants while getting a haircut. Governor James Orengo linked the attack to a pattern of politically motivated violence and urged for the release of CCTV footage to aid investigations. Concerns over rising insecurity and targeted, v
Africa-Press – Kenya. Leaders have called for swift police action following a violent attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi in Kisumu earlier today. Siaya Governor James Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the legislator was injured after being ambushed by armed goons.
Sifuna said he spoke to Osotsi’s team and established that the senator was attacked when he went to get a haircut. “Senator Osotsi was viciously attacked and injured earlier today. He is currently being airlifted to Nairobi as we await further details,” Sifuna said.
He strongly condemned the incident and urged police to move with speed to apprehend those responsible. “I strongly condemn this attack and call on the police to take immediate action against the perpetrators,” Sifuna said.
Orengo also condemned the incident, terming it a coordinated act of intimidation and linked it to a broader pattern of politically motivated violence. He said the senator was badly injured during the attack and has since been flown to Nairobi for further treatment.
The governor linked the incident to a previous violent disruption at Grand Royal Swiss Hotel on the eve of a Kakamega rally, describing both events as deliberate attempts to silence dissenting voices.
“This is a clearly coordinated pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing the voices of the people,” Orengo said.
He called on police to act swiftly, demanding the immediate release of CCTV footage from the restaurant to aid investigations and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
“We demand that the police produce the CCTV footage and bring the culprits to book without further delay,” he said. Orengo warned that the attack could be part of a dangerous attempt to incite ethnic tensions between Luo and Luhya communities.
“Organising such an incident in the heart of Kisumu is a desperate and primitive attempt to incite tribal conflict, but we see through these divide-and-rule tactics,” he said.
Despite the attack, the governor maintained that the movement would not be deterred. “These cowardly acts will not stop us. You cannot kill an idea whose time has come,” he said.
He described Linda Mwananchi as a people-driven movement, insisting that it would continue pushing forward despite what he termed as intimidation. “This movement is unstoppable,” Orengo declared. The attack has raised concerns among leaders over rising insecurity and targeted assaults, with calls for thorough investigations and accountability.
Kenya has a history of political violence, particularly during election periods, where tensions often escalate between different ethnic groups. The recent attack on Senator Osotsi highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of political figures and the potential for violence to disrupt democratic processes. Leaders have increasingly called for accountability and swift action from law enforcement to prevent such incidents from recurring, emphasizing the need for a secure environment for political discourse.
