Gunshots as suspected goons raid Nairobi governor aspirant Irungu Nyakera’s hotel in Kisumu
Nairobi County Governor aspirant Irungu Nyakera shot to the air twice to scare more than 100 armed individuals who had attacked his hotel in Kisumu Town.
Nyakera who is a former Permanent Secretary is a licensed gun holder.
He claimed he was attacked by more than 100 armed individuals early Wednesday morning, resulting in damage to property and injuries to staff.
In a statement, Nyakera said the group stormed the premises at around 5am, vandalising property and assaulting employees. He alleged that the attackers tied up a female security guard during the incident.
Nyakera said he responded by firing two warning shots in the air as the attackers fled. He added that he immediately contacted the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) to request police backup.
However, he claimed that no security officers arrived for about an hour, prompting him to send a message to the police warning that he would shoot anyone who attempted to enter his property again.
The businessman linked the attack to an earlier incident that occurred about three weeks ago, when he said another group allegedly working with officials from the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) raided the premises, confiscated merchandise and locked him out of the building.
Nyakera further accused a top government official of directing that he should not continue operating in the government-owned building because of his political affiliation with the Democratic Change Party (DCP).
Nyakera said he took over the premises as an unfinished structure in 2019 and has since invested more than Sh235 million in developing the property. According to him, he holds a 50-year lease for the building.
“If he indeed wants to take over the property, let him come and we do a valuation and I sell it to him,” Nyakera said, adding that intimidation would not force him out.
He also alleged that some of the attackers were chanting anti-ethnic slogans during the raid.
There was no immediate response from the Interior Ministry or the Lake Basin Development Authority regarding the claims.
Police said Nyakera had not formally reported the matter for further action.
The police said they are however investigating the same.