Osotsi injured in Kisumu attack, airlifted to Nairobi
By Kenneth Mwenda, April 8, 2026Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi suffered injuries in an attack in Kisumu on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, and officials airlifted him to Nairobi for treatment.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna broke the news on his X account. He said he had spoken to Osotsi’s team and confirmed the details.
“I have spoken to Senator Osotsi’s team and confirmed that he was viciously attacked and injured in Kisumu earlier today when he went to get a haircut,” Sifuna wrote.
“The Senator is being airlifted to Nairobi as we speak.”
Sifuna added that he condemns the attack and wants police to act quickly against those responsible.
The incident happened in while Osotsi visited a barber in Kisumu. Attackers struck him without warning. Details about the number of assailants or the weapons used remain unclear.
Osotsi’s team has not released a full statement on his condition.
The attack comes amid rising tension around leaders linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement. In February 2026, Sifuna claimed that he and his team were targeted at Kisumu International Airport ahead of a planned rally in Kakamega.
He claimed that suspected goons barricaded the airport to block their arrival and accused the Kenya Airports Authority of allowing the breach. According to Sifuna, his team had to change travel plans and land at Kakamega Airstrip instead.
The Kakamega rally later turned chaotic, with reports of teargas and clashes between rival groups. One person was confirmed dead.
Osotsi’s recent close calls
Osotsi has remained active in national politics in recent months. In March, he survived a scare when a plane he was travelling in veered off the runway at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.
The flight had arrived from Kisumu with 39 passengers and crew. No one was injured, but Osotsi criticised the lack of emergency response.
“I thank God for His protection after I came out safely from an aircraft accident at Wilson Airport this evening,” he said at the time.
He praised the pilot’s quick action but raised concern about safety at the airport.
“However, it is deeply troubling that despite the pilot’s efforts to save lives, there were no immediate rescue operations from the airport management. There was no ambulance on site and no emergency response team came to our aid,” he stated.
He linked the incident to wider concerns about infrastructure and safety standards.
“This incident comes just days after I sought a statement in the Senate regarding safety concerns and deteriorating infrastructure at Wilson Airport. Today’s events have only reinforced those concerns. The runway was flooded and the lighting system is not functioning properly.”
Osotsi called for the airport to close for upgrades, arguing that passenger safety must come first.
The senator has also faced political shifts. In late March, he lost his position as one of ODM’s deputy party leaders after the party’s special delegates convention rejected his nomination. He has since backed the Linda Mwananchi initiative and continued to speak on governance issues.