Kisumu's killer junction: The dark history of Coptic Roundabout

The Coptic Roundabout in Kisumu, where the fatal accident that claimed the lives of 26 people and left scores injured, is synonymous with accidents.

For the past decade, several lives have been lost at the spot in what has become a trend. Travellers say approaching the spot always triggers fear due to its dark history.

And while the mystery behind the several accidents remains unresolved, residents and motorists believe the design of the road could be a contributing factor to the accidents.

This is worsened by the lack of road signs to warn drivers of the sharp, deep turns along the stretch. According to officials from the Kenya National Highways Authority, some of the road signs were removed by vandals.

So bad is the situation at the site that barely a year passes without a major multi-casualty accident occurring at the site.

In July last year, Uzima University bus overturned at the same spot, killing one staff member and leaving 46 others with serious injuries.

A few days earlier on July 3rd, a lorry travelling to Kisumu from Vihiga overturned at the same spot, killing three others and leaving five others critically injured.

In April last year, one student from Chavakali Boys High School died at the same spot and several of his colleagues sustained injuries after a bus that was ferrying them lost control and crashed.

Similarly, in 2022, a truck overturned at the same spot, leading to the death of three people and scores injured.

And yesterday, as the region continued to struggle to come to terms with the loss of 26 lives, residents and leaders challenged the government to intervene and redesign the road.

Leaders led by Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, MPs Rosah Buyu (Kisumu West), Joshua Oron (Kisumu Central), Senator Tom Ojienda, Kondele MCA (Joachim Oketch) led residents yesterday in calling for government intervention.

"We will engage the Kenya National Highways Authority on finding the best remedy for this area that has been a black spot.In God we continue to trust," said MP Buyu.

While condoling with families who had lost their loved ones, Buyu noted that an information desk has been set up at JOOTRH to help keep the affected families informed and counselled.

Senator Ojienda argued that the roundabout has long been identified as a dangerous blackspot where a combination of steep gradients from Riat hills, poor signage, and inadequate speed control has repeatedly contributed to the devastating accidents.

"It is clear that safety at that location is grossly inadequate, and the frequency of accidents speaks to a systematic failure that can no longer be ignored," he noted.

Ojienda, yesterday, in a statement, said he had initiated urgent and necessary conversations with other leaders and KeNHA on the immediate action to be taken by the National and county governments to prevent further loss of lives at the junction.

He noted that some of the interventions should be a comprehensive structural redesign of the roundabout, installation of additional speed control measures, enhanced road signage and clear visible markings, warning drivers of the upcoming roundabout and steep descent from the Riat hills.

"A coordinated road safety audit involving NTSA, KeNHA, county officials, and local stakeholders must happen to produce a rapid action mitigation plan tailored to the specific hotspot. Community awareness campaigns to urge motorists, especially bus and lorry drivers, to observe safe speeds and avoid neutral gear coasting on slopes and adhere to traffic regulations at all times,"  added the Senator.

Lennox Omondi, a motorist, said he is forced to drive very carefully all the time along the stretch.

"I drive with extreme caution on that stretch, creeping at the lowest speed. My heart aches for families who have lost loved ones, and I believe some engineering adjustments are long overdue to prevent further tragedies," he said.

Another resident, Sharon Achieng, claimed there is a design flaw, with poor road signage and road markings at the roundabout that must be urgently corrected to avert more accidents in the future.

Meanwhile, President William Ruto has sent a condolence message to the families who have lost their kin in the accident and sent best wishes to those receiving treatment.

The President has also called on traffic enforcers to act swiftly to bring to book those responsible for any acts of negligence leading to accidents and address all traffic violations to ensure road safety across the country.

"Our prayers are with the victims of the terrible accident that occurred tonight on the Kisumu-Kakamega Highway. May the Almighty give strength to the families to bear the loss. We wish a speedy recovery to the injured," added President Ruto.