KISUMU, Kenya – The Lake Basin Development Authority (LBDA) has set the ‘record straight’ following a high-profile predawn attack at a Kisumu hotel linked to businessman and Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Irungu Nyakera.
The authority insists that the matter is fundamentally a commercial and legal dispute, not a security crisis.
LBDA says the dispute revolves around Fairways Hospitality Kisumu Ltd, the company operating the hotel, which has defaulted on rent payments since May 2025, leaving arrears of over Sh 25.9 million.
At 5:00am today, over 100 goons attacked my hotel in Kisumu, damaging property and injuring our staff, including tying up the security lady. Upon hearing the commotion, I quickly went after them, shooting twice in the air as they fled. I called the OCS and asked for backup, but
Despite a 2025 consent agreement where the tenant acknowledged the debt and agreed to a repayment plan, LBDA says Fairways repeatedly ignored repayment obligations.
“The Authority remains committed to recovering every shilling of taxpayer money and will continue to pursue all legal avenues as per the orders of the Court and the lease agreement already terminated,” LBDA stated.
The predawn incident, which left hotel staff injured and property vandalized, involved more than 100 suspected assailants storming the premises at around 5 a.m. Nyakera said he fired warning shots to disperse the attackers.
Where do goons invade someone hotel like this?This madness must stop before we turn our country into a pariah state.Kenya needs a renaissance!
He claimed on social media that the attack was politically motivated, tied to efforts to push him out of the business he has operated since 2019, in which he says he has invested over Sh 235 million.
LBDA emphasized that the landlord-tenant relationship was lawfully terminated on February 12, 2026, and that Fairways, now occupying the premises, is an unlawful occupant.
The authority also denied any contractual relationship with Nyakera and condemned the “reckless, unlawful use of firearms to maintain a presence on public land one has no known right over.”
The authority added that attempts to incite ethnic division or intimidate staff and occupants are unacceptable and will be addressed through the courts.
LBDA accused Fairways of misusing the judicial system to delay recovery, citing ex-parte orders obtained in the High Court, Magistrates Court, and Business Premises Rent Tribunal, which were later dismissed, set aside, or stayed due to material non-disclosures.
LBDA has called on police to investigate the predawn attack immediately, while reiterating its commitment to recover every shilling owed and uphold the rule of law.
Nairobi DCP Patron Irungu Nyakera’s Kisumu hotel attacked by armed goons as he links incident to lease dispute with Raymond Omollo and LBDA