21-year-old gunman arrested after firing at police in Kisumu

Police in Kisumu have arrested a man believed to be part of an armed gang following a shootout near Patel Samaj Temple along Otieno Oyoo Street early Tuesday morning.

According to police reports, officers on patrol became suspicious after noticing a man carrying a bulky bag near the temple.

 When approached, the suspect allegedly pulled out an assault rifle and opened fire on the officers.

The man then fled into the temple compound, where he reportedly robbed a security guard of his mobile phone and other personal items before tying him up with a piece of cloth.

From inside the building, he allegedly continued to fire at police officers, forcing residents and worshippers in the area to seek cover.

Police later subdued the suspect after an exchange of fire, recovering an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition.

The man was arrested and is being held at Kisumu Police Station, where he is undergoing interrogation.

Authorities say he will be arraigned in court once investigations are complete, as efforts continue to trace two other suspects believed to have escaped the scene.

The incident comes amid intensified police operations targeting armed gangs across the country.

On May 22, 2025, police arrested three Ugandans and one Kenyan suspected of being behind a series of robberies in Nairobi and Western Kenya, according to Nairobi Regional Police Commander George Seda.

The suspects were arrested in Saika, Dandora, and Huruma, where officers recovered multiple firearms, including a Falcon pistol with 11 bullets and an AK-47 rifle loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition.

Investigations revealed the Ugandans had entered Kenya through the Malaba border a day before their arrest and were planning another robbery in Eastleigh.

Separately, in Garbatulla, Isiolo County, a man surrendered an AK-47 rifle with nine bullets to local authorities in Modogashe North sub-location.

Police are analysing the weapon to determine if it was used in any criminal activities.

Commander Seda said the ongoing crackdown aims to dismantle cross-border criminal networks and curb rising cases of armed robbery across the country.