KISUMU, Kenya — A woman is receiving treatment at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) after she was shot during a police raid on a popular entertainment joint in Dunga area, Kisumu County, on Sunday evening.
According to preliminary reports, officers from Kisumu Central Police Station stormed Atella, a lakeside venue along Lake Victoria, at around 8pm during what authorities described as a crackdown on the use of shisha.
Police are said to have arrested patrons found smoking shisha during the operation. However, the situation escalated when some revellers allegedly attempted to resist the arrests, triggering a confrontation between the crowd and the officers.
Witnesses said the confrontation quickly turned chaotic, prompting police to fire live bullets and lob teargas canisters into the crowd. During the melee, a woman was struck by gunfire.
She was rushed to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) on a motorcycle as officers reportedly withdrew from the scene.
Officers from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have since visited the hospital and recorded the victim’s statement as part of ongoing investigations into the incident.
Kisumu County Police Commander Hillary Toroitich confirmed that the matter is under investigation.
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Meanwhile, Kisumu City Residents Association Chairman Audi Ogada condemned the incident, questioning the legality of the operation and the use of force.
He argued that there is currently no clear law banning shisha use, and called on IPOA to expedite investigations to establish the circumstances that led to the shooting.
The incident has once again reignited debate over policing methods during enforcement operations, particularly in crowded public spaces where confrontations can quickly escalate into violence.
