Kisumu – October 7, 2025

A 21-year-old man armed with an AK-47 rifle opened fire on police in the heart of Kisumu City on Monday morning, throwing the busy Central Business District into chaos.

Traders abandoned their stalls and pedestrians ran for cover as gunfire rang out along Otieno Oyoo Street, near the Patel Samaj Temple.

According to Kisumu Central Deputy Sub-County Police Commander Bakari Mwanauli, the drama began when officers spotted three young men, one carrying a suspicious-looking bag.

“When they noticed police approaching, one of them drew an assault rifle and started shooting,” Mr Mwanauli said. “The officers immediately took cover and engaged him.”

The suspect then fled into the temple compound, where he reportedly held a security guard at gunpoint, robbed him of his phone and personal items, and tied him up with a piece of cloth.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as the man climbed to the top of the building and positioned himself near a water tank, firing sporadically at officers below. “People were screaming and running in all directions,” said a shopkeeper who witnessed the incident. “It was terrifying — like something from a movie.”

Police reinforcements quickly arrived, including a special operations team stationed nearby. After a brief standoff, officers managed to overpower and arrest the suspect. They recovered an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition.

Preliminary investigations suggest the weapon may have been used in previous robberies across Kisumu. The suspect, now in custody at Kisumu Central Police Station, is expected to be arraigned in court once investigations are complete. Police are still pursuing two accomplices who fled the scene.

“This was a dangerous confrontation in a densely populated area,” said an officer familiar with the case. “It could have ended much worse.”

The incident has renewed concerns over rising gun-related crimes in Kisumu, which has witnessed several violent encounters in recent years.

In March 2021, a man grabbed a pistol from a traffic officer along Jomo Kenyatta Highway and opened fire on commuters, killing one person and injuring three others. And in 2024, a DCI officer was stabbed to death by a gang in Riat Estate, underscoring the growing risks faced by law enforcement in the region.

Police have appealed to the public for information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect’s accomplices.

For many residents, Monday’s shooting has left behind more than just bullet holes and broken glass — it’s a chilling reminder of how fragile safety can feel in a city that has known its share of unrest.