Governor Issues Directive To Police After Death Of Pupils In Road Accident

Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o has directed that police officers immediately commence investigations into a road accident that claimed the lives of four people, three pupils included.

The governor on Wednesday, April 2, responded to reports that surfaced in the morning of the terrible road accident when a matatu ferrying students of Ober Boys Boarding School in Homa Bay County to Kisumu crashed into a lorry at Kibwon, in Nyakach Sub County, killing three of the students and leaving 19 others injured.

The conductor of the ill-fated vehicle also died in the accident that occurred a few kilometers from Sondu Township.

"On behalf of the people of Kisumu County, I convey heartfelt condolences to teachers, pupils, and parents of Ober Boys Boarding School for this great loss of lives of the pupils who were traveling to their homes for the April holidays," Governor Nyong'o said in a statement. 

Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o during his address to the members of the press on environmental degradation across the county on March 25, 2025. /ANYANG' NYONG'O

"It is unfortunate that we have lost such young souls in a tragic accident that could have been avoided had the drivers of the two vehicles taken the required caution and adhered to professionalism. I wish to appeal to the police to immediately launch detailed investigations into this accident to establish the cause and take appropriate action against individuals whose mistakes may have led to the crash."

Speaking on the incident, Nyakach OCPD Lairanus Odinga revealed that the accident took place at a sharp bend and that the parked truck lacked proper warning signs.

He stated that the vehicle had just picked up the pupils from school shortly after the closing ceremony and was en route to Kisumu town to drop them off when the crash happened.

Parents of the injured pupils rushed to the Nyabondo Hospital to find out the fate of their loved ones. While addressing the media at the hospital, the parents accused the school of multiple missteps, including permitting pupils to leave as early as 4 a.m. One parent also claimed he was denied permission to take his son home before the official closing date.

The grieving father recounted how he had tried to withdraw his son from school the previous weekend, but was instructed to wait until Wednesday, only for the tragic accident to claim his child's life.

"I talked to my boy last Sunday when I wanted to go pick him up. I also talked to the class teacher, and she referred me to the headteacher. I went up to school, but the headmaster said that I should not collect my boy till Wednesday, today," the parent lamented.

"Sadly enough, by 8 am today, I got a report that my child was involved in an accident. I travelled here from Kisumu, but unfortunately, my son was already gone."

Another parent from the school echoed similar concerns about the journey, which began at dawn, arguing that the pupils, being in junior secondary school, should not have traveled without proper communication to their guardians. He expressed frustration over the lack of a clear plan for how boarding school students would get home for the holidays.

Eyewitnesses at the scene also spoke to the media, describing the accident as particularly distressing since it involved young children traveling in the dark. One witness noted that the road was notorious for accidents, with several past incidents occurring in the same area. He also criticized local traffic police, blaming their negligence for the tragic loss of lives.

Meanwhile, 2025 data from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) highlights road accidents as a persistent issue in the country, with pedestrians and cyclists making up the majority of casualties.

According to NTSA, at least 13 people lose their lives in road crashes daily, with key causes being drunk driving, driver distraction, speeding, and fatigue.