Emotional farewell as Nyakach buries 22 Kisumu crash victim

Grief and a somber mood engulfed Katombo village in Koguta, Nyakach, on Saturday as 22 victims of the Kisumu–Kakamega highway crash were laid to rest after a mass funeral service.

The tragedy, which initially claimed 26 lives before another victim succumbed in hospital, has left the Nyakach community shattered.

The accident happened around the Coptic roundabout, as mourners were returning from a funeral in Nyahera, where they had gone to bury a relative.

Mourners, braving morning drizzles, streamed into Naki Primary School grounds where the funeral service was held.

Tents quickly filled with families, friends and relatives, joined by leaders from the national and county governments.

At the front lay 22 coffins lined up, each marked with the name of the deceased.

The sight alone drew tears from many and the atmosphere was pierced by wails and sobs as the service began.

For some families, the tragedy has left children without parents; for others, entire households have been robbed of loved ones.

“There is no longer a mother to call, no father to lean on,” whispered one mourner, clutching a friend’s hand for strength.

When the service was done, each family took their beloved to be buried in their homestead.

In one home, Rose Ayieko narrated how the tragedy had robbed her family of multiple loved ones.

She is the firstborn daughter of Timon Ayieko, who passed away in the horrific crash.

“But it is not just him. I have lost my brother, my uncles, my aunts and my sisters-in-law. It is so heavy on us. We are broken and crushed,” she said tearfully.

In another homestead, Vallarie Adhiambo and her sister, Liz Achieng’, sat beside their mother Grace, crying their hearts out. Having lost their father earlier, their mother had been their only breadwinner.

As the coffins were lowered one after another, the cries grew louder and the reality of the tragedy sank deeper.

The drizzle that had begun in the morning gave way to heavier clouds, as though the heavens too mourned the loss of 22 souls.

Some families postponed the burials of their loved ones due to personal requests, but the pain remained the same—heavy and unbearable.

ODM leader Raila Odinga, who joined the mourners, described the loss as one of the darkest moments for Nyakach and the country.

“When an old person like me dies, people say it is okay because he has lived his life. But when young people die, it is like the flowers of the earth being destroyed and that makes it very painful,” Raila said, his voice heavy with emotion.

He emphasised that the accident was preventable and called for urgent road safety interventions to avert similar tragedies.

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o assured the bereaved families of continued help, revealing that an account had already been opened at KCB Bank to coordinate contributions towards support efforts.

Questions linger over who was responsible for the Friday night demolition of the Coptic roundabout, where the accident happened.

Locals were shocked to find it flattened overnight, with many left wondering about the sudden move.

In a statement later, the Kenya National Highways Authority said reconfiguration works are underway.

Samwel Kumba, the authority’s deputy director for corporate communication, said a multi-agency team had visited the site and that topographical surveys were being carried out to aid redesign efforts.

“The authority is working to come up with an optimal, safe solution to address the road safety challenge. We urge motorists to maintain vigilance, observe traffic rules and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy,” Kumba said.

KeNHA pledged its commitment to safeguarding road users, even as Nyakach and the larger Kisumu community came to terms with the irreparable loss.