Veteran People Daily journalist Kepher Otieno at Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu. /FAITH MATETEPolice in Kisumu East Sub-county have arrested five suspected members of a criminal gang linked to a series of robberies and violent attacks, including a recent assault on a local journalist.
The suspects were captured during a joint operation by officers from Nyamasaria Police Post and Kasagam Police Station.
According to a police report, the arrests followed a tip-off from an informant.
Officers raided a hideout near River Auji, in the Daraja Mbili area of Manyatta 'B' sub-location.
The gang, reportedly made up of about ten men, was said to be armed with crude weapons and was allegedly planning further attacks in Kisumu’s CBD, Kondele, Kachok, and nearby estates.
Five suspects, aged between 21 and 35, were arrested during the raid.
Police recovered several weapons at the scene, including three pangas, a knife, and a toy gun believed to be used for intimidation.
A Honda motorcycle with registration KMEM 580J, allegedly used by one of the suspects who escaped, was also impounded.
The arrests come days after a brutal attack on People Daily journalist Kepher Otieno at his home in Nyamasaria on the night of July 25.
Otieno was reportedly attacked by ten intruders—five who broke into his house and others who surrounded the compound.
He sustained knife injuries on his hands, swelling on his body, and a head wound.
“They were out to kill me,” he said while recovering.
All five suspects are being held at Kasagam Police Station and are expected to face charges in court.
Police say the operation is part of an ongoing crackdown on criminal gangs in Kisumu East, aimed at improving safety and restoring public trust.
Residents have been urged to stay alert and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
