Survivors of the devastating crash at the Coptic roundabout on the Kisumu–Kakamega highway are now in stable condition, but many require urgent surgeries and medical implants. Medical teams have mobilized across Kisumu County to ensure timely operations, with surgeons brought in from various health facilities to work in shifts until midnight.
Operating theaters at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) and other hospitals are running at full capacity to address severe fractures and critical injuries sustained in the crash. In addition to surgeries, pathologists from the region are conducting post-mortem examinations on the deceased.
The death toll has risen to 26 following the loss of one critically injured patient during treatment. In response, the government has pledged to fully cover burial expenses for the victims’ families.
Local leaders have emphasized the need for urgent improvements to road safety. Calls have been made for the Kenya National Highway Authority to redesign not only the problematic roundabouts but the overall Kisumu–Kakamega highway, which has been flagged as hazardous for years.
Kisumu County health officials have praised the swift action of hospital staff in managing the crisis. A blood transfusion center has been established at JOOTRH to support ongoing and future operations, with public appeals issued for blood donations to replenish supplies. Severe fractures among survivors require extensive pain management and multiple medical interventions, making blood availability critical to patient recovery.
Families of the victims are being assisted through a dedicated information desk at JOOTRH, which is operating 24 hours a day to provide updates and coordinate support services. This facility aims to ease communication during what has been described as one of Kisumu’s most tragic traffic incidents in recent years.
As surgeries proceed and recovery efforts continue, the tragedy has reignited national debate on road safety and infrastructure standards in Kenya. The hope is that swift action on the redesign of dangerous road sections will prevent similar disasters in the future.
