Dawn attack on ex-PS Irungu Nyakera-linked hotel leaves more questions

Ex-PS Irungu Nyakera addresses journalists following an attack on his hotel in Kisumu. [Clinton Ambujo,Standard] The fangs of hooliganism in Kisumu reared their ugly head after goons raided a hotel belonging to former PS Irungu Nyakera, vandalising property and stealing equipment. This happens amidst an ongoing rent dispute between Nyakera, the proprietor of Fairways Hotel, and the Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA). In an incident that has left residents stunned, armed goons invaded the premises around 5 am after allegedly accessing it from the nearby LBDA mall and forcing guards to open the gates for a larger group. CCTV footage seen by The Standard shows armed men invading the premises and carrying away property. One of the videos shows a man armed with a knife kicking the door to the reception. Nyakera was forced to fire in the air to scare the attackers who fled after damaging part of the hotel. Yesterday, distraught staff were still struggling to come to terms with the attack. While some hurdled in a corner, others sat pensively unsure of what the future holds for them. Nyakera, a political operative and an official of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) believes the attack was politically instigated by powerful individuals keen to kick him out of the premises. "I heard commotion at the gate and later noises from downstairs. When I went to check, I found the place completely vandalised. Tables and chairs had been turned upside down, drinks at the bar had been taken, bottles were scattered on the floor, and the television was missing," he said. He added that computers, printers, and other equipment used at the hotel's front office had also been stolen. He claimed one of his guards was tied up by the attackers. In the process, the attackers also targeted his car and vandalised it. The car's windows were smashed while chairs were also scattered at the restaurant. A worker at Fairways Hotel stares at some of the damages after goons raided the hotel and destroyed property. [Clinton Ambujo,Standard] Nyakera claimed he fired shots in the air to disperse the group, only for them to return after about 30 minutes. He claimed that despite alerting the police, it took them almost five hours to visit his premises. A report by the police seen by The Standard, however, indicates that the matter was reported at 9.40 am at Obunga police station, further adding to the controversy. He claims he has operated the hotel since 2019 and wondered the reason the premise had been targeted by goons. "When I took it over, it was an incomplete shell. I invested heavily to convert it into a hotel, including landscaping," he said. In a statement, LBDA dismissed Nyakera's claims, arguing that the facility has a huge outstanding rent arrears and denied having a direct contractual relationship with Nyakera, stating that the lease agreement was signed with Fairways Hospitality Kisumu Ltd. LBDA said the tenant had admitted owing Sh27.4 million in rent arrears in a consent agreement signed on June 3, 2025, but allegedly failed to honour the repayment terms. Fairways had initially obtained ex-parte orders at the High Court to block the recovery of rent, but the court dismissed the application on February 12, 2026.

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