A bus carrying mourners from a funeral overturned and plunged into a ditch along the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway in western Kenya on Friday afternoon, killing 25 people and injuring 20 others, according to local authorities.
The driver lost control of the vehicle while approaching a roundabout at high speed, causing the bus to veer off the road and roll into a ditch in an area known for frequent deadly accidents. Police reports indicate that 10 women, 10 men and a 10-year-old girl died at the scene, while four additional passengers later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.
The passengers were returning from a burial ceremony at Nyahera and traveling to Nyakach, a distance of approximately 62 kilometers. All those aboard were believed to be members of the same extended family, with many from the Korwa and Katieno clans of Koguta Katombo Village in Nyakach Sub-County.
The vehicle involved was a 51-seater secondary school bus from AIC Naki Secondary School that had been hired for funeral transportation. No students were on board during the incident, as the bus was being used specifically to transport mourners.
Peter Maina, a regional traffic enforcement officer for Nyanza province, described how the vehicle lost control and veered off the road. The accident occurred at the Coptic Roundabout near Kisumu, a location that local media describe as notorious for collisions.
Among the injured, five passengers remained in critical condition following the crash. At least 26 survivors were admitted to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu, where medical staff established three operating theaters to treat the wounded.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health issued an urgent call for blood donations to help treat survivors and extended condolences to the bereaved families. The ministry also urged motorists to exercise greater caution on the nation’s roads, particularly given the country’s ongoing struggle with fatal traffic accidents.
Fredrick Ouma Oluga, the principal secretary in charge of medical services in Kenya, confirmed the hospital casualty figures and coordinated the emergency medical response. The facility launched a blood transfusion center open to relatives and the public to support the survivors’ treatment.
President William Ruto responded to the incident by calling on authorities to quickly investigate any acts of negligence that may have contributed to the accident. He emphasized the need to address traffic violations nationwide to ensure improved road safety across Kenya.
The National Transport and Safety Authority of Kenya pledged to assist in the investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash. While the full details remain under review, officials noted that the cause of the accident was not immediately clear.
This incident represents part of a deadly week for Kenya’s transportation sector. On Thursday, nine people were killed when a bus collided with a train at a railway crossing in Naivasha, Nakuru County. The victims were among 32 workers traveling to their jobs when the collision occurred.
Earlier in the week, six people died when a light aircraft belonging to a medical charity crashed in a residential area near Nairobi. On Saturday, seven additional people were killed in another road accident near the capital city.
Kenya faces persistent challenges with road safety. Between 2020 and 2021, road deaths in the country increased by more than 20 percent. In 2021 alone, more than 4,500 people were killed and over 16,000 injured in traffic accidents across the nation.
Road accidents remain common throughout Kenya and the broader East African region, where roads are often narrow and in poor condition with numerous potholes. Police frequently attribute these accidents to speeding drivers and inadequate road infrastructure.
The Kisumu-Kakamega Highway, where Friday’s accident occurred, has developed a reputation for deadly crashes. The area’s dangerous curves and frequent collisions have made it particularly hazardous for travelers.
Community members in the affected village described widespread grief following the loss of so many residents in a single incident. Several families lost multiple members, including community elders and religious leaders who served as pillars of the local society.
The investigation into the crash continues as authorities work to determine if mechanical failure, road conditions, or driver error contributed to the accident. Officials have emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms to address Kenya’s road safety crisis and prevent similar incidents.
