KISUMU, Kenya, April 2026- The Bunge la Wananchi Kisumu county chapter has launched a blistering attack on unnamed politicians accused of arming goons to settle political scores, as Senator Godfrey Osotsi recovers from a violent assault that has sent shockwaves through the region.
Terming the attack on the Vihiga Senator as “cowardly” and “primitive,” the grassroots assembly warned that such violence has no place in a modern democracy and demanded that all perpetrators face the full force of the law.
“We demand a thorough and expedited investigation to bring to book all perpetrators of violence,” declared Salim Onyango alias ‘Tosha’, Chief Whip of Kisumu Bunge la Wananchi.
“While we commend the police for their swift response in arresting some culprits, we demand a speedy conclusion to this matter.”
In a sharp warning to the political class, Onyango said: “We are warning our politicians to stop weaponising this attack for political mileage but instead act as agents of peace and cohesion.
Evans Ofula, the Secretary General, took aim at leaders attempting to link the assault to Interior Security Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo, a claim he dismissed as baseless.
“I want to state here openly that the individuals seen in that CCTV footage acted on their own and not on behalf of anyone else,” Ofula said.
“Anyone trying to link the attacks because of one or two photos taken is misguided.”
On her part, Caroline Okelo, the Bunge la Wananchi woman representative, apologised to the Vihiga Senator and his family for the primitive act, wishing him a speedy recovery.
“We want to apologise to the Vihiga Senator and his family over this cowardly act, kwa sababu hatutaki vita na mashemeji wetu (because we do not want war with our neighbours),” Okelo said.
She further stressed that the Luo and Luhya communities have enjoyed peaceful ties for ages and urged young people to reject being used as agents of violence, warning that the country is headed for a critical electioneering period.
The calls for justice and prosecution come at a time when the government, through the Ministry of Interior, intensifies efforts to dismantle organised criminal gangs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
With just 15 months to the polls, security agencies are under pressure to stem politically linked violence before it escalates.
