BUSIA, Kenya — In the wake of a tragic accident that claimed two lives, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has called on the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to improve road conditions in the county. The accident, which occurred on a stretch of road constructed in the 1970s, highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the heavy traffic flow through Busia and Malaba, key gateways to East and Central Africa.
According to Kenya News Agency, who spoke after visiting the accident site in Mundika, the current state of the roads is inadequate for the volume of trucks that traverse the area daily. He extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those hospitalized.
The governor emphasized the critical role of the Busia-Kisumu and Malaba-Eldoret Highways in facilitating the transit of goods from Kenya to neighboring countries. He urged KeNHA to prioritize the upgrade of these highways to mitigate the risk of accidents. Additionally, Otuoma highlighted county efforts to educate residents on road safety measures, particularly in accidents involving fuel tankers, to prevent further tragedies.
He also pointed out the importance of completing the trailer parks in Busia and Malaba within the year to reduce the number of trucks on the road at any given time, addressing the risk posed by traffic snarl-ups caused by malfunctioning scanners.
The call for improved road safety was echoed by several leaders from Busia, including CS Ababu Namwamba, PS Susan Mang’eni, Busia Woman Rep Catherine Omanyo, and Senator Okiya Omutata, who all sent condolence messages to the families affected by the recent accident. PS Mang’eni expressed her sorrow over the incident on social media, describing it as a sad day for the nation and particularly for Busia County.
Busia Woman Rep Omanyo advocated for the dualing of the road from Busia One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) to Bumala and Malaba to Kanduyi to minimize accidents. She remarked on the need for the government to take action to save lives and protect the economy, especially considering the significant revenue Busia generates annually for the government.
