Police in Kisumu Central sub-county have arrested a 21-year-old man following a dramatic shootout in the city centre, recovering an AK-47 rifle believed to have been used in the attempted robbery.
Kisumu Central Deputy Police Commander Bakari Mwanauli identified the suspect as Kelvin Oduor, alias Kevo. He said officers on patrol along Otieno Oyoo Street rushed to the scene after hearing gunfire in the early hours of the morning.
They discovered that Oduor had raided a residential compound and tied up a night guard while preparing to rob the premises.
When the officers arrived, the suspect opened fire, sparking a brief exchange. Oduor then fled into the nearby Patel Sarmaj building, where he tried to hide inside a rooftop water tank. Police surrounded the building and managed to flush him out after a tense standoff.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, serial number 94883, loaded with a magazine of live ammunition. Officers also found a spent cartridge at the scene, believed to have been fired during the confrontation.
“The suspect was subdued and arrested. He is being held at Kisumu Central Police Station and will be arraigned once investigations are complete,” Mwanauli said.
The incident comes amid growing concern over an increase in night robberies within Kisumu’s central business district. Police say they are investigating possible links between Oduor and other recent armed attacks in the area, describing the arrest as a major breakthrough in efforts to restore safety in the city.
