Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei has urged authorities to promptly arrest those responsible for the violent assault on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi in Kisumu. He condemned the escalating political intolerance and violence in the country.
In a Thursday interview on a local TV station, Sigei characterized the attack on Osotsi as deeply troubling and unacceptable in a democratic society.
“It is heartbreaking for a colleague to endure such an ordeal,” he stated, emphasizing his strong condemnation of the incident.
Osotsi is recovering in a Nairobi hospital after being airlifted from Kisumu, where unknown assailants attacked him on April 8, 2026. His communications director, Derick Luvega, reported that the senator had stopped for a haircut in the Acacia area before visiting a Java restaurant to meet a friend and engage with the public.
Shortly thereafter, a group of armed individuals confronted him, questioning his political affiliations. The attackers, reportedly angered by his ties to the Linda Mwananchi faction, assaulted him. His security team opted for restraint to prevent firearms from being drawn in a public space.
Sigei highlighted that such incidents signal a troubling trend that requires immediate attention.
“We cannot tolerate political violence. It is fundamentally wrong,” he asserted.
He reiterated the constitutional right of leaders to travel freely across the country without fear of intimidation.
“This is Kenya. We should be able to visit any place without prior consent,” Sigei stated, emphasizing that differing political views should not justify violence.
Sigei noted that authorities have identified suspects through available footage and expressed confidence in the security agencies, urging decisive action.
“With our capable police force, these individuals should be arrested if the footage is clear,” he said.
The senator stressed that justice must encompass not only the attackers but also anyone who may have orchestrated the assault.
“If the attackers had sponsors, they too should face the law,” he added.
Osotsi’s team has called on the National Police Service to examine CCTV footage from the restaurant to identify those responsible. They labeled the assault as barbaric and cowardly, suggesting it was premeditated.
Political leaders from various parties have condemned the attack, warning that unchecked violence could jeopardize the country’s stability ahead of the 2027 elections.
This incident occurs amid heightened tensions within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the rise of the critical Linda Mwananchi faction. Despite the attack, Osotsi’s team urged the public not to generalize the incident or link it to the broader Kisumu community, highlighting the senator’s previous positive interactions with residents.
