President William Ruto has issued a strong directive to traffic authorities following a horrific road accident at Coptic Roundabout in Kisumu, which has left at least 25 people dead and 32 others nursing injuries.
In his statement, delivered shortly after news of the tragedy spread across the country, the Head of State called on all relevant agencies to urgently investigate the events that led to the deadly crash and ensure that anyone found guilty of negligence is held fully accountable.
He further stressed the need for a nationwide crackdown on traffic violations to improve road safety.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this terrible accident that occurred tonight on the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway,” President Ruto said.
“I am directing our traffic enforcement officers to move quickly, bring to justice anyone whose actions or negligence caused this accident, and step up efforts to deal with all traffic violations so that we can keep our roads safe for everyone.”
Details of the Tragedy
The fatal crash involved a bus carrying members of the Sigoti Clan, who were reportedly returning home from a funeral. Witnesses say the driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle before it veered off the road and overturned.
The bus, which belonged to a local high school, was left badly mangled, and shocking images obtained by Newshub.co.ke showed the wreckage surrounded by distressed locals trying to comprehend the scale of the disaster.
According to early reports, most of the victims died on the spot, while others succumbed to their injuries while receiving treatment.
Those injured were rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), where they were admitted to the Orthopaedic Trauma Ward.
Authorities Respond
In the wake of the crash, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) confirmed that it had dispatched a team of road safety auditors to the scene to assist in piecing together the exact cause of the accident.
Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir also issued a statement, saying that a full assessment would be conducted to guide the government in designing stronger safety measures to prevent such deadly incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, Health Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga announced an urgent blood donation drive to assist survivors in need of transfusions.
The drive is taking place today, Saturday, August 9, at Leresian Park within JOOTRH from 9:00 a.m., and is being coordinated by the Blood Transfusion Unit.
Dr. Oluga urged members of the public, especially those in Kisumu and surrounding areas, to turn up in large numbers to donate blood and help save lives.
The accident has sparked fresh debate on the state of road safety in Kenya, with calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, better driver training, and regular vehicle inspections to reduce the country’s high rate of road fatalities.
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