At least 21 people, including a nine-month-old baby, have died in a devastating road accident in the Mamboleo Coptics area of Kisumu County.
Police said the crash involved a school bus that had been ferrying mourners home from a funeral.
The cause of the accident remains unclear, though early reports indicate the vehicle lost control before overturning. Witnesses described scenes of chaos as bystanders and first responders tried to pull victims from the wreckage.
Multiple survivors, many with serious injuries, were rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital where medics worked to stabilise them. Hospital officials said they were bracing for further casualties as emergency crews continued to bring in the injured through the night.
Kenya Red Cross teams joined police officers at the scene to coordinate rescue operations and to assist in recovering bodies. Authorities have yet to confirm the final death toll, warning that the number could rise as rescue work continues.
The accident has cast a pall over the community, many of whom had attended the same funeral earlier in the day. Relatives gathered outside the hospital seeking information on missing loved ones.
Kenya’s roads have seen a spate of fatal accidents in recent months, with official data showing hundreds of deaths linked to speeding, overloading and poor vehicle maintenance. Road safety campaigners renewed calls for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and better driver training.
Regional police commander confirmed that a full investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the crash and whether negligence played a role.
As night fell over Mamboleo, the twisted shell of the bus lay by the roadside under floodlights, a stark reminder of a journey that began in mourning and ended in tragedy.
