Twenty-three people have been confirmed dead after a bus they were travelling in lost control and overturned at the Coptic Roundabout on the busy Kisumu-Kakamega Highway.
Confirming the incident, Nyanza Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer Peter Maina said the casualties were among 61 others who were returning home from a funeral.
Survivors, he said, were rushed to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) for treatment, with five being in critical condition.
While the exact cause of the accident remains unclear, but preliminary reports indicated that the driver lost control before the bus overturned.
According to a statement from JOOTRH, thirty two of the occupants are currently stable and receiving treatment at the hospital.
“Unfortunately, the hospital also received 19 bodies from the accident scene, while another, three unidentified adult males and a male child succumbed to their injuries upon arrival at the hospital,” read the statement in part.
In response to the tragic event, the hospital established a help desk with psycho-social support services next to the Emergency and Accident Unit to assist family members seeking information on their loved ones.
Health Principal Secretary (PS) Oluga Ouma who visited the hospital said the level of response was swift, adding that everything was being done to stabilise the injured.
The PS said the Ministry was working closely with the Ministry of Interior to support the affected families.
By Chris Mahandara
