There was chaos in Kisumu’s Central Business District (CBD) on Monday morning after a 21-year-old man armed with an AK-47 rifle opened fire on police officers along Otieno Oyoo Street.
The dramatic incident caused panic among traders, shoppers, and pedestrians, who ran in all directions for safety as gunfire echoed through the area.
According to Kisumu Central Deputy Sub-County Police Commandant Bakari Mwanauli, the confrontation began when officers noticed the young man walking with two other individuals, one of whom was carrying a suspicious-looking bag.
When police approached them for questioning, the man suddenly pulled out a gun from the bag and started shooting at the officers, sparking a tense exchange of fire.
“This morning, around the Patel Samaj Temple along Otieno Oyoo Street, our officers spotted three men, one of whom was carrying a bag that raised suspicion.
When officers moved closer to question them, one suspect quickly drew an assault rifle and began shooting,” Mwanauli told reporters.
As the situation escalated, the suspect ran into the Patel Samaj Temple compound, where he allegedly confronted a security guard, pointing the gun at him.
He is said to have robbed the guard of his phone and other personal belongings before tying him up with a piece of cloth.
Witnesses described the scene as something straight out of a movie, as the suspect climbed to the top of the building and took cover near a water tank, continuing to fire at police officers below.
Residents and worshippers around the area were forced to flee as the intense gunfire continued. Police quickly sealed off the area to prevent further danger to the public.
A special response team from Kisumu, with the help of officers who were patrolling nearby, surrounded the building and managed to subdue the armed man after a short standoff. The officers recovered an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition from him.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the same weapon may have been used in several robbery incidents reported recently in Kisumu city.
Police believe the suspect and his accomplices may have been involved in a series of violent crimes before the Monday morning shootout.
The suspect, who sustained minor injuries during his arrest, is currently being held at the Kisumu Central Police Station as detectives continue to investigate how he acquired the rifle and to identify his accomplices.
He is expected to be charged in court once investigations are complete. Police have since launched a manhunt for the two other men who managed to escape during the chaos.
Kisumu has in the past witnessed similar violent incidents within its CBD. In March 2021, a man caused panic after snatching a gun from a traffic police officer near the Jomo Kenyatta Highway roundabout.
He fired indiscriminately at passers-by and motorists, killing one person and injuring three others before being subdued.
In another shocking incident in 2024, a 42-year-old Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer was brutally stabbed to death by a gang in the Riat area as he was walking home in the evening.
These recurring cases have raised concerns about rising insecurity in Kisumu, with residents urging law enforcement to tighten patrols and enhance surveillance within the city to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Join Government Official WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
