Senator Godfrey Osotsi is recovering in hospital after sustaining injuries in a violent incident in Kisumu, with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna confirming that doctors have placed him in stable condition despite the severity of his injuries as investigations into the attack continue.
Sifuna, who checked on the legislator at Karen Hospital, expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the assault and said medical staff are closely monitoring his condition while he receives treatment.
“Just left Karen Hospital, where our brother Senator Osotsi is being taken care of. He is badly injured, but the doctors are taking good care of him. They say he is ‘stable’. I don’t know what to say in these situations, honestly. It shouldn’t come to this,” he said.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has since confirmed that it is handling the matter as a serious assault, saying detectives have already begun working on leads to determine what transpired and who carried out the attack.
“We strongly condemn the brazen and cowardly attack on Vihiga Senator Hon. Godfrey Osotsi that occurred in Kisumu,” the DCI said.
According to the agency, the reason behind the attack has not yet been identified, but officers are reviewing available evidence, including closed-circuit television footage, to help reconstruct the events and identify the suspects.
“At this stage, the motive behind the attack has not been established. Our detectives are actively pursuing very crucial leads following a detailed forensic analysis of the available CCTV footage,” the statement read.
The DCI has appealed to the public to remain patient and avoid spreading unverified information, noting that ongoing investigations require space to proceed without interference. It added that all necessary efforts are being made to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Preliminary information indicates that Osotsi had visited a grooming outlet before proceeding to a nearby restaurant, where he spent time interacting with people for about half an hour.
During that time, a group of armed individuals is reported to have approached him and confronted him with questions about his political views, particularly his association with a ‘one-term’ position, before allegedly attacking him.
Reports further suggest that his security team chose not to use firearms during the confrontation to avoid escalating the situation in a public setting.
Reactions from leaders have been swift, with Siaya Governor James Orengo describing the incident as part of a worrying trend of intimidation targeting political figures and attempting to silence differing voices.
“This is a clearly coordinated pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing the voices of the people,” he said.
Separately, Osotsi’s office condemned the assault, terming it unacceptable and calling on authorities to act quickly. It also pointed to the presence of CCTV coverage in the area as a key element that could assist investigators in identifying those involved.
The DCI has maintained that the probe is ongoing and promised to share updates as more information becomes available.
