The death toll from the tragic road accident in Kisumu has risen to 26 after one more victim succumbed to injuries on Friday night, Medical Services Principal Secretary (PS)Dr. Ouma Oluga has confirmed.
Dr. Oluga said twenty-six survivors were currently admitted at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), most requiring orthopaedic or neurosurgery.
Speaking at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) on Saturday, Dr. Oluga said the government has mobilised resources, including additional hospitals and operating theatres, to ensure all the surgeries are completed by midnight.
“This hospital has 10 theatres, but we also have other patients to care for. That is why we are looking at other facilities that we have so that by midnight, every single patient from the accident will have received the surgery they need. We do not want to lose any more lives,” he assured.
The PS said all victims of the crash have been identified, with no reports of missing persons.
“We have two scenarios — those we lost, all of whom have been identified and are in the mortuary, and those in the wards, who are receiving treatment. This is a great show of unity from the community and relatives during this difficult time,” he said.
Dr. Oluga said JOOTRH has established a desk to support the bereaved families with counselling and other services as arrangements to carry out postmortems continue.
“We have already provided counselling services to more than 30 relatives, and a 24-hour information desk remains active to assist families. A bus has also been availed to carry the bereaved family members to their homes in Nyakach and back to this facility,” he said.
The PS announced that the government will cater for all medical bills and burial expenses for the victims, adding that pathologists from the Nyanza and Western regions have been mobilised to carry out postmortems once the families grant consent.
Dr. Oluga said the next phase will focus on social and bereavement support, with coordination between the Ministry of Health, county leaders, and the Ministry of Interior to assist with funeral arrangements and longer-term aid.
“This is a sorrowful time, and the impact will linger for a long time. We will continue to offer mental health support to the community well beyond the coming weeks,” he said.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, who visited the hospital to comfort survivors, called for urgent restructuring of Coptic Roundabout section of road where the crash occurred.
“That road at that point has to be restructured. No week passes without an accident on that stretch — it has even been nicknamed Konambaya,” said Prof. Nyong’o.
“The problem is not just the roundabout. It is the conception and structure of the entire road. This is an emergency now because too many lives have been lost there, including friends of mine,” the governor said, urging swift intervention.
His sentiments were echoed by South East Nyakach Member of County Assembly (MCA) Lumumba Owade who asked the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to move with speed and remove the roundabout.
Owade said the way the roundabout was designed was to blame for the frequent accidents.
He threatened to mobilise the community to remove the roundabout if the State agency fails to act.
The MCA further asked the Ministry of Education to carry out an audit of all school buses to ensure they are roadworthy to avert loss of lives.
“This is the third bus from my ward being involved in an accident. This raise concerns over the safety of buses deployed to ferry our children,” he said.
The ill-fated bus belonging to AIC Naki High School was ferrying mourners from a funeral in Nyahera in Kisumu West.
Nyanza Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer Peter Maina said police have launched investigations to unearth the cause of the accident.
By Chris Mahandara
