Western MPs condemn attack on Osotsi, demand action from IG Kanja

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi hospitalised/HANDOUT

MPs from Western Kenya have condemned the attack on Vihiga Senator Godffrey Osotsi and urged swift action from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.

Addressing a press briefing at Parliament Buildings, the lawmakers described the incident as a well-orchestrated attack and warned that they would summon the police chief to appear before Parliament to explain the rising cases of insecurity.

Luanda MP Dickson Maungu claimed the attackers appeared to have trailed the senator before striking.

“Osotsi was on his way to the village and what happened appears to have been carried out by people who had monitored his movements,” Maungu said. “From the clips, you can actually see they were well planned and armed.”

He further alleged that the perpetrators were known individuals and hinted at possible political motives behind the attack.

“These are people who are known, and we ask the IG of Police Douglas Kanja to bring them to book. They are goons organised by some specific people who we shall be naming very soon,” he said. “What interest do they have in the life of Senator Osotsi, a leader who has declared his stand in the political direction?”

Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo linked the attack to political intolerance, claiming the assailants interrogated the senator over his political stance during the ordeal.

'During the torture, they kept asking Osotsi why he was not saying "Two Term". It is not a crime to take a different political position, and as Linda Mwananchi, we will not be intimidated,” Oundo said.

“We will continue to champion the interests of Kenyans. We are seeing a pattern of intolerance,” he added, while cautioning young people against being used by politicians to perpetrate violence.

“We want to ask young men not to allow themselves to be used by politicians. At the end of the day, they may shoulder the burden alone,” Oundo said.

In a veiled warning, the MP cautioned against escalating tensions. “We do not want to say we will start taking care of ourselves—and you know what I mean by that. Nobody has a monopoly on violence or ideas,” he said.

He also dismissed any attempt to frame the incident along ethnic lines. “We want to emphasise that this is not a war between the Luo and Luhya communities, and anybody pushing that narrative is an enemy of the people of Kenya,” he stated.

Butere MP Tindi Mwale reiterated that Parliament would take action by summoning the Inspector General to shed light on the broader security situation.

“We are going to summon IG Kanja to Parliament to come and address the issue of security in this country,” Mwale said. “I also condemn the act that happened to Osotsi. We are calling on the IG to ensure that Kenyans are safeguarded.”

Mwale argued that the attack on Osotsi reflects a wider national problem, noting that many Kenyans face similar threats daily.

“The attack is not new. You may wonder why there is so much attention on this case, yet many Kenyans go through this. Security is becoming a nightmare,” he said.

He pointed to similar concerns in other parts of the country. “We have similar problems in Mombasa and Kirinyaga. The issue here is overall security,” Mwale added.

The MP also criticised Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen for what he termed as silence on the matter.

“We want CS Murkomen to act. He is very quiet. We are not getting any statement even from the police station nearest to where Osotsi was attacked,” he said. “We need to address the security problem for all Kenyans.”

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera urged the police leadership to take a more proactive approach in tackling crime.

“We are saying, IG Kanja, come out of your office and go to the ground to address security challenges. Go and get criminals,” Nabwera said.

“That is why we are saying Murkomen, Kanja—please—we have mourned enough,” he added.