A Climax Coach bus traveling from Busia was involved in a serious accident on the morning of Sunday, May 18, near Awasi in Kisumu County.
The crash has left several passengers injured, some critically, and raised concerns over ongoing road safety issues involving long-distance buses.
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, where paramedics and police officers provided first aid and coordinated the evacuation of injured passengers to nearby hospitals.
Authorities have yet to confirm the total number of casualties, but early reports indicate multiple injuries and unverified fears of fatalities.
The cause of the accident has not yet been established.
However, investigations are underway, with traffic officers at the scene collecting statements from witnesses and assessing the wreckage.
This incident comes just over a week after another Climax Coach bus was involved in an accident on Kimende Road, on May 10.
That midnight crash involved a collision with a Nissan vehicle.
While no fatalities were reported, at least five passengers were seriously injured, and one person fainted due to shock.
A survivor from the Kimende Road accident, who also spoke to the media attributed the crash to reckless driving. “The problem was that the driver was driving at a very high speed.
When he was about to collide with the Nissan, he tried to swerve and avoid it, but that’s when it all happened. The bus slid off the tarmac and into a ditch,” the passenger recounted.
The latest crash has once again brought the spotlight back on road safety in Kenya, particularly concerning the conduct of drivers operating public service vehicles.
On April 16, 2025, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) released a report highlighting that 5,856 people were involved in road crashes between January 1 and March 31 this year.
The data showed a slight decrease in road fatalities compared to the same period in 2024 with 1,139 lives lost, down from 1,166.
Despite the decline, road safety authorities remain concerned about persistent human error, particularly reckless driving and driving under the influence.
In response, Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir announced plans to reintroduce breathalyzers commonly known as alcoblow to curb drunk driving.
“We are currently facing a serious problem of indiscipline on our roads,” Chirchir stated.
“To restore order and ensure safety, we seek to reintroduce breathalyzers to curb accidents caused by human error.”
The NTSA, alongside local police, is expected to release an official statement regarding the Awasi accident later today.
Meanwhile, traffic along the busy Kisumu-Nairobi highway remains partially disrupted as recovery efforts continue.
This is a developing story. More details to follow.
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