Police in Kisumu Arrest a 21-Year-Old Gunman, Recover AK-47 Rifle

Kenya, 27 October 2025 - Police in Kisumu on Monday arrested a 21-year-old gunman who opened fire with them shortly after he terrorised and robbed a security guard of his mobile phone and other belongings.

The incident happened at Patel Samaj Temple along St Otieno Oyoo Street. The officers on patrol had earlier spotted suspicious three men, one with a plastic bag.

When they pursued them, the man with plastic bag drew a rifle and started shooting at the officers.

The officers swung in swift action and cornered the man, who took refuge at Patel Samaj Temple.

"While he was inside, he robbed one of the guards at gunpoint of his mobile phone and other belongings," said one officer during a press briefing.

The suspect, who has since been identified as one Kevin Oduor alias 'Kevoo', tied the guard using a piece of cloth and he continued engaging the officers.

"We responded with our special team and we managed to smoke him out in the [temple] room and he managed to climb the top roof where he hid himself in a water drum."

He was later caught, and police conducted a thorough search, leaving no stone unturned, until they recovered an AK 47 rifle and five rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, with a spent cartridge.

Police believe the rifle has been used in several other robberies within Kisumu City.

The suspect is in custody at the Kisumu Central Police Station, where he is being interrogated further before arraignment in court.

The incident unfolds just a day after police on Sunday managed to recover a Jericho firearm that was stolen from a General Service Unit (GSU) officer attached to Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa during Final Mass before the burial rite of former prime minister Raila Amolo Odinga at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Bondo, Siaya County.

The Sunday recovery of the firearm followed a tip-off from members of the public who conducted a raid in a house within Manyatta ''B'' estate in Mbeeme area in Kisumu and managed to apprehend four suspects. The four are Timothy Odhiambo, David Beckham Odhiambo, Tony Blair Omondi, and Harun Ibrahim.