At least 25 people were killed Friday when a bus carrying mourners overturned in western Kenya, police confirmed. Nyanza Regional Traffic Commander Peter Maina said the 51-seater vehicle was returning from a funeral when it lost control.
The accident occurred at the Coptic Roundabout in Kisumu County, a notorious blackspot some 350 kilometres northwest of Nairobi. Witnesses described the scene as one of chaos and grief, with twisted metal and scattered belongings marking the violent end of the journey.
Officials said the crash ranks among the deadliest in the region this year, underscoring a troubling rise in road fatalities nationwide. Kenya has seen a sharp increase in deadly accidents, with authorities citing speeding, reckless driving and poorly maintained vehicles as persistent causes.
The latest tragedy came less than 24 hours after a light aircraft plunged into residential buildings in central Kenya, killing six people. On the same day, in Naivasha, a train slammed into a staff bus belonging to the Kenya Pipeline Company, claiming eight more lives.
The series of disasters has left the nation in mourning and reignited debate over the state of road and transport safety. For many in Kisumu, Friday’s accident was not just another headline, but a cruel reminder of the fragility of travel in Kenya.