ODM Senator Airlifted to Nairobi After Brutal Kisumu Attack
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was on Wednesday airlifted to Nairobi after he was violently attacked in Kisumu, leaving him with injuries that required urgent specialised treatment.
According to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the ODM lawmaker was assaulted earlier in the day while on a personal visit in the lakeside city.
Reports indicate that the injuries were serious enough to make road travel impossible, forcing his team to arrange an emergency airlift to Nairobi for immediate medical care.
Senator Sifuna, who was among the first leaders to speak publicly about the incident, said he had directly spoken with Osotsi’s team and confirmed the shocking attack.
He explained that the senator had gone for a routine haircut before the situation suddenly turned violent. While full medical details have not yet been made public, the urgency of the transfer to Nairobi shows the seriousness of the injuries he suffered.
In his statement, Sifuna strongly condemned the assault and called on police officers to move quickly and bring those responsible to justice.
He said the attack on a sitting senator was deeply disturbing and demanded immediate investigations, adding that those behind the violence must be identified and arrested without delay.
A statement from the Vihiga Senator’s office gave more details about what happened before the attack. The office said Osotsi had first visited the Acacia area in Kisumu for personal grooming before later heading to a Java restaurant, where he met a friend.
During his stay there, he reportedly spent about thirty minutes interacting warmly with members of the public in what appeared to be a normal and peaceful environment.
However, the calm situation later changed when a group of armed individuals confronted him. According to his office, the attackers questioned him over his political position before physically manhandling him, leaving him injured.
The nature of the confrontation has raised fresh concerns about the growing levels of political intolerance and violence in the country, especially against leaders seen as outspoken on national issues.
Senator Osotsi has recently been associated with the Linda Mwananchi faction, a political wing linked to Senator Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
The group has remained vocal in criticising sections of ODM leaders seen as leaning closer to President William Ruto and the ruling UDA alliance. Because of this, the latest attack is likely to spark even wider political debate and renewed accusations of intimidation within opposition circles.
Since the rise of the Linda Mwananchi rallies across different parts of the country, leaders linked to the movement have repeatedly complained of harassment, disruptions, and the use of police force to break up their public meetings.
This latest attack on Osotsi is expected to intensify those concerns, with many now waiting to see how security agencies respond and whether the masterminds behind the assault will be held accountable.
Join Kenya TUKO KADI Official WhatsApp Channel to stay updated on time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
