Kileleshwa Ward Member of County Assembly Robert Alai has weighed in on the ongoing investigation into the attack on Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, urging restraint and due process amid growing public scrutiny of three suspects arrested in connection with the incident.
Alai, while strongly condemning the assault on the senator, cautioned against what he termed as premature judgment being passed on the accused before the completion of investigations and formal court proceedings.
Senator Osotsi was attacked in Kisumu in an incident that has triggered political outrage and calls for swift action by security agencies.
for swift action by security agencies. Three suspects have since been arrested as detectives continue piecing together CCTV footage, witness accounts, and forensic evidence to establish the full circumstances surrounding the assault.
However, Alai warned that the public debate surrounding the case risks undermining justice.
“I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on Senator Godfrey Osotsi. Political violence has no place in our democracy. I wish him a full recovery,” Alai said, expressing solidarity with the legislator.
At the same time, he raised concern over what he described as an emerging “trial by media” targeting the suspects, who he said were already being branded and condemned before key investigative steps are completed.
According to Alai, critical procedures such as recording of statements, identification parades, full analysis of CCTV footage, and examination of digital evidence are yet to be concluded.
He argued that public commentary was running ahead of the formal justice process.
He further criticised political and social media narratives that, in his view, were dehumanising the suspects, warning that such language risks fueling ethnic profiling and public hostility.
The MCA also linked the broader issue to youth unemployment, arguing that Kenya’s economic challenges have left millions of young people vulnerable and easily drawn into criminal networks.
“We must address the real issue. Kenya has millions of young people in the informal sector, unrecognised, unprotected, and desperate,” he said, urging leaders to focus on long-term solutions rather than political blame games.
Alai insisted that all accused persons are constitutionally entitled to the presumption of innocence under Article 50, stressing that only the courts have the authority to determine guilt.
He called on political leaders to avoid inflammatory statements and instead allow investigative agencies and the judiciary to carry out their work independently.
“To the families of the accused, your sons deserve due process, not mob justice. To my fellow leaders, come with solutions, not soundbites,” he said.