The Siaya County Government has sent its enforcement unit chief and several officers on compulsory leave following a disturbing incident in which armed goons stormed the governor’s office and violently dispersed striking nurses. County Secretary Joseph Ogutu confirmed that the affected officers, who were on duty during the attack, will be away for 30 days to allow investigators to establish how the attackers entered a secured county compound and assaulted health workers. The move comes amid widespread condemnation from local leaders, labour unions and residents who have demanded accountability for the shocking breach of security.
According to Ogutu’s statement dated September 2, 2025, the administration is working with security agencies to track down and prosecute those behind the violence. He emphasized that the county is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all staff, including frontline health workers who were engaged in a lawful demonstration over labour grievances. Early in the week, a peaceful protest outside Governor James Orengo’s office turned chaotic when men armed with clubs and crude weapons emerged from within the compound, leaving several nurses injured as police officers reportedly watched without intervening.
The attack sparked immediate backlash, with the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUN) demanding a public apology from the governor and enhanced protection for health workers. KNUN Deputy Secretary General Maurice Opetu, who visited Siaya alongside national officials, said the incident proved that the county was increasingly unsafe for public servants. Siaya Township MCA Obiero Otare and leaders from the local PSV sector also joined in condemning the violence, warning that the county was sliding toward lawlessness. They questioned how assailants managed to access the governor’s offices without detection, pointing to possible internal complicity or negligence.
As investigations begin, residents and leaders are calling for swift, transparent action to restore confidence in the county’s security and governance systems. The county administration has promised a thorough probe, raising expectations that those who failed to act—or facilitated the attack—will face consequences. The outcome of the inquiry is likely to influence future labour relations in Siaya, with unions insisting that the safety and dignity of workers must be guaranteed before any negotiations with the county proceed.