President William Ruto has expressed deep sorrow following a tragic accident on the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway on Friday evening, urging traffic authorities to take swift action against those responsible.
In a statement, the President sent heartfelt condolences to the families of the 21 people who lost their lives and wished a quick recovery to the injured.
“Our prayers are with the victims of the terrible accident… May the Almighty give strength to the families to bear the loss,” Ruto said.
Beyond his message of sympathy, Ruto called on traffic enforcement officers to act promptly against any parties found negligent and to intensify the crackdown on traffic violations nationwide.
“We ask traffic enforcers to act swiftly to bring to book those responsible for any acts of negligence leading to the accident and address all traffic violations to ensure road safety across the country,” he added.
The 5:30 pm accident occurred at the Coptic area on the Kisumu-Kakamega Road, claiming 21 lives — 10 men, 10 women and an eight-month-old baby.
The tragedy struck when a school bus transporting mourners from Nyahera to Nyakach in Kisumu County attempted to navigate a sharp corner at the Coptic blackspot but rolled over. Preliminary reports suggest the driver lost control before the bus veered off the road and overturned.
According to Nyanza Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer Peter Maina, 20 survivors were taken to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, with five in critical condition. Mechanical experts will inspect the vehicle to establish the cause of the crash.
The Coptic roundabout, the site of the accident, is a notorious blackspot known for multiple fatal crashes over the years. Residents have long blamed the frequent accidents on poor road design, unclear signage and reckless driving.
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