President William Ruto has directed traffic authorities to act swiftly and hold those responsible for negligence in the tragic Coptic Roundabout accident, which has so far claimed 25 lives.
In a statement issued in the aftermath of the fatal crash that left a further 32 injured, Ruto instructed the relevant bodies to determine the events leading to the accident that has gripped the entire nation.
Furthermore, Ruto, in directives issued on Friday, August 9, instructed the authorities to address all traffic violations to enhance road safety across the country.
“Our prayers are with the victims of the terrible accident that occurred tonight on the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway,” he stated.
“We ask traffic enforcers to act swiftly to bring to book those responsible for any acts of negligence leading to the accident and address all traffic violations to ensure road safety across the country,” Ruto ordered.
The tragic accident occurred after a bus carrying members of the Sigoti Clan overturned, resulting in 25 deaths, with the casualties believed to be mourners returning from a funeral.
It is reported that the driver lost control before the bus veered off the highway and overturned.
Images obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed the mangled wreck of the bus, belonging to a local high school, along with others showing locals milling around the scene of the accident.
After the accident, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) issued a statement revealing that it had dispatched a team of road safety auditors to the scene to aid in the investigation into the crash.
Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir also announced that a full assessment would be undertaken to inform safety interventions and prevent such tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, Health Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga announced an urgent blood drive at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) to aid survivors of the crash. The survivors were receiving treatment in JOOTRH’s Orthopaedic Trauma Ward.
The blood drive is set for today, Saturday, August 9, at Leresian Park, JOOTRH, from 9 a.m., and will be run by the Blood Transfusion Unit.
