Political Candidate Fires Warning Shots After Dawn Attack on Kisumu Hotel
Kisumu, 11 March 2026
Former government official Irungu Nyakera discharged his firearm twice into the air after more than 100 attackers stormed his Kisumu hotel at 5:00am on Wednesday morning. The Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant claims the assailants injured staff members and tied up a female security guard before fleeing when he confronted them. Despite requesting police backup immediately after the incident, Nyakera says officers failed to arrive within an hour, prompting him to warn authorities he would shoot anyone attempting to enter his property. This marks the second security breach at the hotel in three weeks, raising questions about the safety of political figures’ business interests in the lakeside city.
Scale and Nature of the Attack
The Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) patron described the incident as involving over 100 attackers who stormed his hotel premises at the Lake Basin Development Mall [1]. The assault resulted in property damage of unspecified value and left several staff members injured [1]. A female security guard was reportedly tied up during the attack, highlighting the deliberate nature of the assault [1][3]. Nyakera stated that upon hearing the commotion, he ‘quickly went after them, shooting twice in the air as they fled’ [1].
Police Response Delays Raise Concerns
Despite immediately contacting the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) for backup, Nyakera claims no officers arrived within an hour of his request [1]. Frustrated by the delayed response, he sent a message to police warning that he ‘intended to shoot anyone stepping into my property’ [1]. However, Nyanza regional police commander Evelyn Gisiri stated that Nyakera had not officially reported the incident and urged him to ‘report the incident for more police action’ [1]. This disconnect between Nyakera’s claims and official police records raises questions about communication protocols during emergency situations.
Pattern of Harassment Emerges
This attack marks the second security incident at Nyakera’s hotel in recent weeks. Approximately three weeks ago, on 17 February 2026, a similar incident occurred where attackers entered the premises, removed merchandise, and temporarily locked out staff [3]. Nyakera has alleged that these attacks are politically motivated, claiming that a Principal Secretary directed that he could not continue being a tenant in a government building due to his DCP affiliation [3]. According to Nyakera, the Nyanza Region DCI boss informed him that this PS has personal interests in the property [3].
Investment at Risk in Political Climate
Nyakera has invested substantially in the Kisumu property since taking it over as an unfinished structure in 2019 [1]. Court records indicate he has invested more than Sh235 million in developing the hotel and holds a 50-year lease on the property [1]. Despite the repeated attacks, Nyakera stated he remains committed to the investment [1]. The incidents highlight broader security concerns for political figures’ business interests in Kenya’s lakeside city, particularly as the 2026 election cycle approaches and Nyakera pursues his gubernatorial ambitions for Nairobi.