Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has revisited the Wednesday, violent incident that left him injured in Kisumu, describing how a routine public engagement quickly turned into an unexpected attack despite what he says were earlier moments of calm and public interaction during his Western Kenya tour.
Speaking after his discharge from Karen Hospital, Nairobi on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Osotsi thanked leaders, friends and family for their support during his recovery before giving a step-by-step account of what happened on the day he was assaulted.
“I must thank you for showing up for my family in this short period,” he said. “Many people came to visit me in the hospital, particularly members of Linda Mwananchi.”
He mentioned several political figures who visited him during treatment, among them Kalonzo Musyoka, Wycliffe Oparanya, Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino and Caleb Amisi.
Osotsi said his trip to Western Kenya had been planned as a two-week political and constituency tour linked to activities under the Linda Mwananchi movement.
He noted that his arrival in Kisumu was marked by enthusiastic crowds.
“When I arrived at Kisumu Airport, I had a large team of youth who were shouting and encouraging us to continue doing what we were doing,” he said.
According to him, similar scenes of support followed along the Kisumu–Kakamega highway and later at Kondele, where groups of young people gathered around his convoy.
“They never hounded me. They never even asked me for anything because they know we are working for them,” he said.
After spending time in Vihiga for meetings, Osotsi returned to Kisumu the following day for what he described as a short personal stopover.
“I decided to go to Kisumu for a haircut. I went to the Acacia Complex,” he said.
He said the environment at the complex appeared normal and he did not sense any threat at the time.
After the haircut, he planned to meet a colleague, Jennifer Malanga, to discuss football development plans in Vihiga County.
“We were to meet football officials in Vihiga to plan for my sponsorship of the league,” he said.
The meeting was held in a public space where, according to him, everything initially proceeded without incident. A journalist briefly approached him, exchanged greetings and left.
Osotsi said he may have become less alert during the meeting.
“I don’t know whether I made a mistake, but it is one of those days when you think you can drop your guard,” he said.
He explained that he sent his security aide to withdraw money nearby shortly before the situation changed.
Moments later, a group of around 15 to 20 youths entered the complex.
“I was seated facing the main entrance, so I saw them coming in. They did not look hostile. They were shouting ‘Senator’,” he said.
At first, he assumed they were part of the earlier supportive crowds.
“Two of them greeted me. I did not see any danger,” he added.
The mood shifted within seconds.
“All of a sudden, they started hitting me and asking why I was supporting one term and not supporting William Ruto,” he said.
Osotsi said the attack escalated rapidly, leaving him unable to defend himself.
“Before long, I was unconscious because they hit me so hard. I tried to run away, I fell down, and they continued to hit me,” he said.
He stated that his security officer returned during the chaos and stepped in, preventing further harm. He also claimed one attacker tried to access a firearm.
“One of the guys was trying to remove a gun to shoot, but when my security removed his, they panicked and ran away,” he said.
He managed to escape through the back of the premises.
“I ran to the kitchen. Behind the kitchen, there is a door for deliveries. My team had organised my car on the other side. That is how I was saved,” he said.
Senator Osotsi was first rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu before being flown to Nairobi for specialised treatment, with former Kisumu Governor James Orengo helping coordinate his evacuation.
The incident, earlier confirmed by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, occurred on April 8 while Osotsi was at a barber shop in Kisumu and later required advanced medical care in Nairobi.
He also pointed to other recent security incidents, including a March 2026 scare at Wilson Airport where he escaped unhurt after a plane veered off the runway.
Despite the attack, Osotsi said he is recovering well and remains focused on his duties.
“I was in a very bad condition. My whole face was swollen. I could not be recognised. My right hand was paralysed, and I had a knock on my knee,” he said.
He praised doctors at Karen Hospital for stabilising him.
“Within a short time, I am alive, I have healed, and I am ready to go,” he said.
Osotsi dismissed claims linking the assault to personal issues, insisting it was politically motivated.
“This was not a love thing,” he said. “When a leader in Kenya is attacked, propaganda will always try to make it look like something else.”
He added that his family has also been affected but said he remains determined to continue with his political engagements.
Detectives in Kisumu have already arrested three men suspected to have taken part in the attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi at a restaurant in Kisumu on Wednesday.
The suspects have been identified as Carlos Owiti alias Kalonje (24) and Vincent Odhiambo alias Tinga (27), both residents of Nyalenda, and Eric Otieno alias Dude (39) from Manyatta.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday said the arrests were made following intelligence-led operations, supported by information received from members of the public.
