Kisumu, Kenya – Police in Kisumu are investigating a predawn attack at Fairways Hotel, located in the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) Mall, after dozens of armed suspects stormed the property, causing significant damage and fleeing with electronic gadgets.
The hotel’s owner, Irungu Nyakera, a former Principal Secretary, reported that he fired two warning shots in the air to disperse the attackers. He described the assailants as “armed goons” who vandalized property and even damaged a motor vehicle parked on the premises.
“This was a coordinated attack. They came in large numbers, destroying property and threatening our staff,” Nyakera told journalists at the scene.
DCI officers visited the hotel and are actively probing the incident to apprehend the suspects. CCTV footage shared by Nyakera on social media shows dozens of individuals entering the hotel and causing destruction.
Nyakera, who is also a licensed firearm holder, has accused the LBDA and an incumbent Principal Secretary of orchestrating the raid. The hotel owner claims the attack is linked to ongoing court battles with the authority over unpaid rent arrears.
In response, LBDA Managing Director Wycliffe Ochiaga said the hotel owes over KSh 25 million, which it has failed to pay as per the lease agreement. Ochiaga emphasized that the authority remains committed to recovering the debt through legal channels and condemned any unlawful activity.
“We have a court case ongoing, and any attempt to take the law into one’s hands is unacceptable. We urge the police to investigate this incident,” Ochiaga stated.
The matter is currently before the Kisumu High Court and the rent tribunal. Nyakera, who served as Principal Secretary for the State Department of Transport during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s first term, faces a complex situation involving both legal and security challenges.
Authorities have called for calm as investigations continue, stressing that all allegations will be thoroughly examined.
