A Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant, Irungu Nyakera, claimed on Wednesday, that over 100 attackers raided his Kisumu hotel at dawn, injuring staff and causing property damage.
Nyakera linked the attack to an ongoing dispute with the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA), which says the tenant, Fairways Hospitality Kisumu, defaulted on rent and is unlawfully occupying the property despite multiple court rulings.
“At 5:00am today, over 100 goons attacked my hotel in Kisumu, damaging property and injuring our staff, including tying up the security lady.”
He said he responded by firing two warning shots as the group fled.
“Upon hearing the commotion, I quickly went after them, shooting twice in the air as they fled.”
Nyakera said he contacted local police for assistance but claimed that officers did not respond quickly enough.
“I called the OCS and asked for backup, but an hour later, when no backup was forthcoming, I sent him a message that I intend to shoot anyone stepping into my property.”
He also alleged that a similar incident had taken place several weeks earlier.
“We had a similar incidence three weeks ago where goons, working alongside our landlord LBDA, under firm instructions from PS Raymond Omollo, came to the premises and carted away our merchandise, and locked us out of our own premises.”
Nyakera further claimed that security officials informed him that he could not continue occupying the property due to his political affiliation.
“Upon reporting the matter to the security agencies in Kisumu, I was informed that PS Raymond Omollo had directed that I cannot continue being a tenant in a government building because I am in DCP.”
He also suggested that the dispute may be linked to alleged personal interests in the property.
“Further, the Nyanza Region DCI boss informed me that PS Raymond Omollo has personal interests in the property.”
Nyakera said he had invested heavily in the premises since taking it over.
“Let me inform PS Raymond Omollo as such, I took over this premises as a shell in 2019, and have invested over 235 million as per court records, and I hold a 50-year lease on this property.”
He added that he was willing to sell the property if an agreement could be reached.
“If he indeed wants to take over the property, let him come and we do a valuation and I sell it to him.”
Nyakera also condemned what he described as ethnic hostility directed at him during the alleged attack.
“Sending goons here, chanting ‘hatutaki mkikuyu’, will not drive me away. I am an investor, but I am not stupid.”
However, the Lake Basin Development Authority strongly rejected Nyakera’s claims in a detailed statement, saying the dispute is strictly a commercial landlord–tenant matter involving a company known as Fairways Hospitality Kisumu.
“The relationship between LBDA and Fairways Hospitality Kisumu (Fairways) was strictly a commercial landlord-tenant matter governed by a Lease Agreement signed in 2019.”
The authority said the tenant had defaulted on rent payments and acknowledged owing millions of shillings.
“Following continuous rent defaults by Fairways, Fairways entered into a voluntary Consent Agreement on June 3, 2025, where it unequivocally admitted to an indebtedness of Sh27,431,473.”
LBDA said the company failed to honour repayment terms and had accumulated further arrears.
“Fairways has failed to pay any current rent from May 2025 to date, with total outstanding arrears now exceeding Sh25,900,000.”
The agency also accused the tenant of misusing the courts to delay enforcement actions.
“LBDA wishes to highlight the Fairway's calculated misuse of the judicial system to frustrate the lawful recovery of rent.”
It cited a High Court ruling which dismissed the tenant’s application for an injunction.
“On February 12, 2026, upon hearing the parties, the High Court dismissed Fairways' motion for an injunction, expressly affirming LBDA's contractual right to levy distress for rent.”
LBDA said subsequent attempts to obtain orders from lower courts were also overturned.
“Once the Magistrate's Court was apprised of this deception, it set aside its earlier orders, citing want of jurisdiction and the tenant's irregular conduct.”
According to the authority, the lease agreement was formally terminated earlier this year.
“LBDA clarifies that the landlord-tenant relationship was lawfully terminated on February 12, 2026.”
The authority also distanced itself from Nyakera personally.
“The LBDA has no known relationship with any party called Irungu Nyakera as the previous agreement was with an institution called Fairways Hospitality Kisumu Limited.”
It further urged authorities to investigate the use of firearms at the premises.
“We call upon the police to immediately initiate investigations as to the actions of the said party who has made declarations that he is ready to shoot anyone at the premises and who has confirmed that he has fired two shots yet he has no right in the property.”
The dispute highlights a growing legal and political battle over the property, with both sides presenting sharply conflicting accounts of events and ownership rights.
