According to Kisumu Central Deputy Sub-County Police Commandant Bakari Mwanauli, police officers spotted a 21-year-old man with two others carrying a suspicious bag.
Upon noticing the officers, the suspect allegedly pulled an assault rifle from the bag and opened fire.
“This morning, at around Patel Samaj Temple along Otieno Oyoo Street, one of the assailants had a bag that drew our attention. Upon seeing the officers, he withdrew an assault rifle and began shooting at them,” Mr Bakari said.
The suspect then entered the temple compound, where he reportedly held a security guard at gunpoint, stole his mobile phone and other belongings, and tied him up with a piece of cloth.
He allegedly climbed to the top of the building near a water tank, engaging police in a brief standoff while continuing to fire as residents and worshippers scrambled for safety.
A special police team, supported by officers on routine patrol near the temple, eventually subdued and arrested the suspect, recovering an AK-47 rifle and five rounds of ammunition.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the weapon may have been used in multiple robbery incidents across Kisumu city.
The suspect is currently in custody at Kisumu Central Police Station as investigations continue to trace the firearm’s origin. He is expected to be arraigned in court, while police continue to pursue his two accomplices, who managed to flee the scene.
