Kisumu City was thrown into panic on Monday morning after a 21-year-old man opened fire on police officers during a dramatic shootout near the Patel Samaj Temple along Otieno Oyoo Street.
According to police reports, the incident began when patrol officers spotted three suspicious men loitering in the area. One of them, carrying a plastic bag, reportedly drew an assault rifle and began shooting at the officers when approached.
Kisumu Central Deputy Sub-County Police Commandant Bakari Mwanauli confirmed the incident, stating that the officers quickly took cover and pursued the armed suspect, who attempted to hide within the temple premises.
“This morning, we had a shooting incident around Patel Samaj Temple, along Otieno Oyoo Street. Our officers on patrol saw three men, and one of them drew an assault rifle and started shooting at them,” Mwanauli said.
Gunman Turns on Temple Guard
During the standoff, the suspect allegedly overpowered a security guard stationed at the temple, robbing him of his mobile phone and tying him up before continuing to exchange fire with police.
“They managed to corner him at the Patel Samaj Temple. Inside, he robbed one of the guards at gunpoint and tied him up using a piece of cloth from the door,” Mwanauli added.
As reinforcements arrived, the suspect tried one final act of defiance—climbing to the temple’s roof and hiding inside a large water drum. Police officers, however, managed to “smoke him out” and place him under arrest without further casualties.
Weapons Cache Discovered
During a search of the premises, police recovered an AK-47 assault rifle, five rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a spent cartridge believed to have been used in previous robberies across the city.
“We recovered an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and evidence linking the suspect to several robberies in Kisumu,” said Mwanauli.
The suspect, identified as Kevin Oduor, 21, is currently being detained at the Kisumu Central Police Station and will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete.
Linked Crimes Across the Region
In a separate incident, police in Kisumu East are holding four suspects accused of stealing a firearm from a General Service Unit (GSU) officer in Bondo, Siaya County. The officer, who was part of Governor Fernandes Barasa’s security detail during the funeral service of Raila Odinga at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), lost his Jericho pistol loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition amid a commotion involving unruly youths.
The suspects — identified as Timothy Odhiambo, David Beckham Odhiambo, Tony Blair Omondi, and Harun Ibrahim — were later tracked down and arrested following a tip-off from the public.
Residents Call for Action
The back-to-back firearm incidents have left Kisumu residents demanding tighter security patrols in the city’s central business district and surrounding areas.
“It’s becoming too common. We need more police presence, especially at night,” said a trader along Oginga Odinga Street.
Police have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as investigations continue.
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