A 21-year-old man caused chaos in Kisumu's Central Business District on Monday by firing an AK-47 at police officers, leading to a tense standoff at a temple. Officers arrested him after recovering the weapon, which is linked to prior robberies. Two accomplices remain at large as investigations continue.
On Monday morning, October 27, 2025, panic gripped Kisumu’s Central Business District when a 21-year-old man opened fire on police along Otieno Oyoo Street, forcing traders and pedestrians to flee for safety.
Kisumu Central Deputy Sub-County Police Commandant Bakari Mwanauli described the incident: “This morning, we had an incident at around the Patel Samaj Temple along Otieno Oyoo Street. One of the assailants had a bag that drew suspicion. Upon spotting the officers, he withdrew an assault rifle and started shooting at them.” The man was spotted with two others carrying a suspicious bag, and upon noticing the officers, he drew the AK-47 and began exchanging fire.
The suspect then entered the temple compound, where he held a security guard at gunpoint, robbed him of his mobile phone and other belongings, and tied him up with a piece of cloth. He climbed to the top of the building, positioning himself near a water tank for a brief standoff, continuing to shoot at officers while residents and worshippers sought cover.
A special police team, supported by officers on routine patrol, subdued and arrested the suspect. They recovered an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition. Preliminary investigations indicate the gun was used in several robberies in Kisumu city.
The suspect is detained at Kisumu Central Police Station, with probes underway to trace the firearm's source. He is scheduled for court arraignment, while police pursue the two accomplices who escaped.
Kisumu has seen similar gun-related incidents. In March 2021, a man seized a pistol from a traffic officer near Jomo Kenyatta Highway roundabout and fired indiscriminately, killing one person and injuring three. In 2024, a 42-year-old Directorate of Criminal Investigations officer was stabbed to death by a gang in the Riat area.