Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi was Wednesday afternoon airlifted to Nairobi after he was “viciously attacked” and injured by unknown assailants in Kisumu.
Details from the senator’s team indicate that the attack occurred while he had stepped out to get a haircut, turning what appeared to be a routine stop into a violent confrontation that has since triggered outrage among political leaders.
“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. The Senator is being airlifted to Nairobi as we speak,” Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and a close ally said.
“Whilst we wait further details, I strongly condemn this attack and ask the police for immediate action on those responsible.”
Sources familiar with the incident said the attackers accosted the senator in a public setting before assaulting him, leaving him with injuries that required urgent evacuation for specialised treatment.
The motive of the attack had not been officially established by the time of publication, but the incident is likely to raise fresh concerns over the safety of leaders amid heightened political tensions.
Osotsi has in recent months emerged as one of the more vocal critics of President William Ruto’s administration, consistently questioning government policies and warning against what he describes as the erosion of accountability.
The senator has also been at the centre of internal wrangles within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), where his stance on cooperation with the government has put him at odds with sections of the party leadership.
In a dramatic fallout earlier, Osotsi was removed from his position within ODM, a move that exposed deep divisions within the party over its political direction and engagement with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
His allies have maintained that his removal was politically motivated, linking it to his hardline позиции against the government and his push for the opposition to remain firm and independent.
The latest attack now casts a spotlight on the increasingly fraught political environment, where disagreements — both within parties and across the aisle — are playing out beyond formal platforms.
Police had not immediately issued a statement, but pressure is mounting on security agencies to move swiftly and identify those behind the assault.
Political observers warn that the brazen nature of the attack — targeting a sitting senator in a public place — signals a worrying escalation that could deepen fears over political intolerance if not urgently addressed.
