Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o has called for the urgent redesign of the Kisumu-Kakamega highway following a devastating road accident that claimed 26 lives on Friday evening.
The crash occurred at the notorious Coptic blackspot when a school bus, ferrying mourners from Nyahera to Nyakach in Kisumu County, rolled while attempting to negotiate a sharp corner. Authorities say the vehicle was carrying family and friends returning from a burial ceremony.
While visiting survivors at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching & Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) on Saturday, Prof. Nyong’o urged the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to undertake a comprehensive restructuring of the highway to prevent similar tragedies. He also appealed to members of the public to donate blood to aid the injured.
The death toll, which initially stood at 25, rose to 26 on Saturday morning after one of the five critically injured victims succumbed to injuries. Among the dead were 10 men, 10 women, and an eight-month-old baby.
The tragedy has left the Korwa clan in Koguta, Nyakach Sub County, in deep mourning, with 22 of the victims reportedly from the same extended family. Relatives described the loss as catastrophic, with some saying entire generations had been wiped out.
Mary Achieng’, a grieving family member, said the incident had left them in shock and despair. “We have lost so many at once; it feels like our roots have been cut,” she lamented.
At least 28 other passengers sustained injuries and are admitted at JOOTRH, with many awaiting surgeries. Five survivors remain in critical condition.
In a show of solidarity, the national government has pledged to cover all medical expenses for the injured and burial costs for the deceased.
As investigations continue, the tragedy has reignited debate over road safety and the urgent need to address accident-prone sections of Kenya’s highways.
“This accident should be the last of its kind,” Prof. Nyong’o said. “We must act now to save lives.”
