Residents in Kisumu have appealed to Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to intervene and help stop truck accidents at the Kachok flyover in Kisumu.
Led by Kisumu City Residents Voice Association chairman Audi Ogada, residents noted that the rising cases of accidents at the flyover have claimed several lives.
They want urgent intervention by Murkomen and urged him to personally visit the flyover for a fact-finding mission to help address cases of accidents.
“We are urgently requesting your intervention to save the lives of citizens who normally find themselves victims of notorious drivers and riders at Kachok Flyover and along Nairobi Road,” Ogada said.
He noted that the Zebra crossings near schools, market areas and directly opposite the Jubilee market are now black spots.
“The most worrying and shocking thing is that within a span of one week, more than eight accidents have been witnessed,” Ogada said.
Last week on Tuesday, three people died after a cargo truck fell off the Flyover and collapsed on a tuk-tuk that was parked on the roadside.
Locals decried poor road design, claiming many truck drivers have had difficulties in navigating sharp turns while carrying heavy loads.
Despite several pleas by members of the public to the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), the county government of Kisumu and the National Police Service, no practical action has been taken.
“We are strongly appealing to your office and all relevant offices to come up with an immediate and effective approach to this grave matter that is causing anxiety and panic around the market and bus Park area at large,” he said.
He proposed that the strategy was to erect a bump and put clear signage and speed limits from the Museum area to Kisumu Boys roundabout as well as the Kamas area to end the accidents.
Ogada urged the county government in partnership with KeNHA to install road signs to caution the drivers of impending danger or divert the cargo trailer onto another road.
Residents also want the pavement built higher to prevent drivers from overturning in case they lose control.
