Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has given a detailed account of the moments leading up to the attack that left him injured in Kisumu, saying the assault came without warning despite earlier signs of public support.

Speaking during a press briefing at Karen Hospital after his discharge on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Osotsi thanked leaders, supporters and his family for standing by him before recounting the sequence of events that culminated in the attack.

“I must thank you for showing up to me and my family in this short period,” he said. “Many people came to visit me in the hospital, particularly members of Linda Mwananchi.”

He singled out Kalonzo Musyoka, Wycliffe Oparanya, Edwin Sifuna, Babu Owino and Caleb Amisi among those who visited him.

After the brief remarks, the senator shifted focus to the day of the incident.

Osotsi said he had travelled to Western Kenya on Friday with plans to stay for two weeks and reconnect with his constituency after spending time on Linda Mwananchi activities.

He described a warm reception upon arrival in Kisumu.

“When I arrived at Kisumu Airport, I had a large team of youth who were shouting and encouraging us to continue doing what we were doing,” he said.

He added that similar scenes played out along the Kisumu–Kakamega road and at Kondele, where groups of young people gathered around his car in support.

“They never hounded me. They never even asked me for anything because they know we are working for them,” he said.

Routine Kisumu stop

Osotsi later travelled to Vihiga for meetings before returning to Kisumu the following day for what he described as a routine stop.

“I decided to go to Kisumu for a haircut. I went to the Acacia Complex,” he said, referring to the busy business area that hosts several outlets, including a restaurant.

He maintained that even at the complex, the mood remained calm and supportive.

After his haircut, he planned to meet a colleague, Jennifer Malanga, to discuss preparations for a football initiative in Vihiga.

“We were to meet football officials in Vihiga to plan for my sponsorship of the league,” he said.

The meeting took place in a public setting, where he said nothing appeared out of the ordinary. At one point, a journalist approached, greeted him and left.

Osotsi admitted that he may have lowered his guard.

“I don’t know whether I made a mistake, but it is one of those days when you think you can drop your guard,” he said.

He sent his security officer to withdraw money from a nearby location, a short distance from where he was seated.

Moments later, a group of between 15 and 20 youths entered the complex.

“I was seated facing the main entrance, so I saw them coming in. They did not look hostile. They were shouting ‘Senator’,” he said.

At first, he believed they were part of the same supportive crowds he had encountered earlier.

“Two of them greeted me. I did not see any danger,” he added.

Attack unfolds within seconds

The situation changed quickly.

“All of a sudden, they started hitting me and asking why I was supporting one term and not supporting William Ruto,” he said.

Osotsi said the attack escalated within seconds, leaving him unable to defend himself.

“Before long, I was unconscious because they hit me so hard. I tried to run away, I fell down, and they continued to hit me,” he said.

His security officer returned during the commotion and intervened. Osotsi claimed one of the attackers attempted to draw a gun.

“One of the guys was trying to remove a gun to shoot, but when my security removed his, they panicked and ran away,” he said.

He managed to escape through the back of the premises.

“I ran to the kitchen. Behind the kitchen, there is a door for deliveries. My team had organised my car on the other side. That is how I was saved,” he said.

He was first taken to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu before being airlifted to Nairobi for specialised treatment. James Orengo was among the leaders who responded quickly and helped coordinate his transfer.

The attack, first confirmed by Sifuna on April 8, took place while Osotsi was at a barber shop in Kisumu. He suffered injuries and was flown to Nairobi for further care.

The incident came against a backdrop of rising political tension around leaders linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement. In February 2026, Sifuna claimed that suspected goons blocked access to Kisumu International Airport ahead of a rally, forcing his team to change travel plans.

Osotsi also referenced recent personal scares, including a plane incident at Wilson Airport in March 2026, where he escaped unharmed after an aircraft veered off the runway.

Despite the latest attack, the senator said he is recovering well and remains resolute.

“I was in a very bad condition. My whole face was swollen. I could not be recognised. My right hand was paralysed, and I had a knock on my knee,” he said.

He praised the medical team at Karen Hospital for his recovery.

“Within a short time, I am alive, I have healed, and I am ready to go,” he said.

Osotsi dismissed claims linking the attack to a personal dispute, insisting it was politically motivated.

“This was not a love thing,” he said. “When a leader in Kenya is attacked, propaganda will always try to make it look like something else.”

He added that his family has faced distress following the recent incidents but said he remains focused on his work.