- Following the Kisumu-Kakamega tragedy, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o took to social media to highlight a dignified send-off for the victims of the recent Coptic roundabout accident.
Kenya is grappling with a devastating surge in road accidents in 2025, culminating in a staggering 2,933 fatalities between January and August 10.
A particularly grim spike of 80 deaths in just four days preceding August 11 prompted the Ministry of Roads and Transport to issue an urgent press statement. The crisis has triggered widespread public concern, high-level government interventions, and renewed scrutiny of the country’s transport systems.
On August 8, 2025, a tragic crash on the Kisumu-Kakamega highway claimed the lives of 26 mourners, a tragedy that has since become the highlight of a larger, national road safety crisis.
This grim data, coupled with a string of other high-profile fatal accidents—including a Naivasha train-bus collision that killed nine and the AMREF Flying Doctors Plane crash and the ENA Coach Bus accident has put the nation on high alert.
The tragic events have triggered a wave of responses from key figures across the government and public sphere.
Read More
President William Ruto, On August 8,2025, reacted to the Kisumu-Kakamega crash, ordering traffic authorities to launch an investigation and hold those responsible for negligence accountable. “Traffic enforcers should address all traffic violations to ensure road safety across the country,” he said.
Through a press statement on Monday, August 11, 2025, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Roads and Transport Davis Chirchir announced reactive measures in response to the situation. He has ordered multi-agency safety audits on accident-prone roads in response to a surge in crashes involving public service, private, and commercial vehicles.
According to the CS, officials from various agencies are conducting safety audits on the road segments to identify safety deficiencies and to reconstruct the scenes.
"The team is expected to complete the exercise within the next seven days and submit technical recommendations for implementations to avert unnecessary loss of lives,” he said.
The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to implementing measures outlined in the National Road Safety Action Plan 2024-2028. It also highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen road safety legislation concerning school transport, commercial vehicle operations, drunk driving, vehicle inspections, and the review of the Traffic Act.
Following the Kisumu-Kakamega tragedy, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o took to social media to highlight a dignified send-off for the victims of the recent Coptic roundabout accident.
He further stated that a joint funeral service will take place on August 16, 2025. His post on X not only expressed condolences and praised the medical teams but also pointed to the specific design flaws of the Coptic Roundabout, which he called a "death trap”.
He revealed that talks are underway with the national government and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to redesign the entire highway, not just the roundabout, suggesting that some of these accidents are as a result of the dangerous infrastructure.
The infrastructure projects aimed at improving road safety, such as the redesign of the Nithi Bridge and the dualling of the Rironi-Mau Summit Road were mentioned at the press statement. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) will continue its public education and awareness campaigns.
The Ministry calls on all road users, including drivers, pedestrians, "boda boda" riders, and cyclists, to take responsibility for their safety by adhering to speed limits, vehicle maintenance standards, and traffic regulations. The statement concludes by emphasizing that road accidents are preventable and a collective responsibility for safeguarding lives.
The road to safer highways in Kenya will require not just new policies but implemented actions.
