The government has banned right‑turn movements at the Coptic roundabout in Kisumu and introduced a raft of safety measures as part of ongoing efforts to reduce accidents at the crash‑prone junction.
Speaking before the Senate on Wednesday, the Cabinet Secretary for Roads and Transport, Davis Chirchir, stated that the restriction on right turns is part of temporary traffic control measures introduced to minimise the risk of collisions as authorities prepare for a permanent redesign of the area.
According to the CS, the Kenya National Highways Authority conducted site visits and a safety review of the Coptic section in response to persistent concerns about frequent accidents.
The review resulted in a redesign proposal that will convert the roundabout into a traffic road to allow smoother vehicle flow and reduce conflict points.
“To address the safety concerns at this Roundabout, KENHA conducted site visits in August 2025 and subsequently redesigned the Coptic area crash road section,” said Chirchir.
Planned works include the construction of new pavement layers, improved drainage, and enhanced safety features to ensure safer, more efficient movement for road users. However, the Ministry noted that reconstruction has not yet begun due to budgetary limitations.
CS Chirchir told the Senate that the project has been prioritized for funding in the current budget cycle and will be implemented as a long-term corrective measure once funds become available.
In the meantime, several interim safety measures have been implemented to mitigate risks at the junction. These include the installation of crash barriers, refreshed road markings, and the placement of reflective road studs to improve visibility, particularly during low‑light conditions.
The ministry further updated senators on ongoing road safety audits and black spot mapping along key roads leading to Kisumu City. According to CS Chirchir, multiple assessments have been conducted to identify hazards, evaluate compliance with safety standards, and recommend corrective actions.
Targeted inspections were also carried out at roundabouts along the Kisumu–Kakamega corridor, including Coptic, Konambaya, and Riyadh, focusing on road design, signage, and overall junction safety.
In addition, road safety audits have been undertaken on several highways serving Kisumu County through collaboration between national road agencies, county authorities, and the National Transport and Safety Authority.
The implementation status of the recommended measures has been detailed in an annex tabled before the Senate.
The ministry also addressed concerns over rising fatalities involving long-distance passenger buses, particularly in western Kenya, saying a multi-agency team has been deployed to conduct urgent safety audits on accident-prone road sections.
According to Chirchir, road safety agencies have adopted measures, including intensified operations along high-risk corridors, mandatory vehicle inspections, driver sensitization programmes, and stricter enforcement of regulations on driving hours, rest periods, and staffing requirements for long-distance public service vehicles.
“The enforcement of the laws on maximum hours of driving by Public Service Vehicles (PSV) drivers will be enhanced,” noted Chirchir.
Chirchir added that the combined engineering, enforcement, and awareness measures are intended to reduce accidents and improve road safety at the Coptic roundabout and across the wider road network.
