Story by Sherine Atieno and photos by Ondari Ogega

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Children Services, Ms. Carren Agengo, has assured the people of Nyakach of the national government’s unwavering support following Friday’s tragic road accident at the Coptic roundabout on the Kisumu–Kakamega highway that claimed 26 lives and left many injured.

Speaking during a briefing at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), PS Agengo conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and emphasised the government’s immediate priority—providing psychosocial support to survivors and those mourning their loved ones. She said the State Department for Children Services will lead the coordination of counselling services and ensure that all children in need receive the necessary support, even as burial arrangements are made.

“We have children who have lost their lives, and we also have children who have been left without parents. The most critical need at this moment is psychosocial support to help these families cope with the loss,” she said. The families are trying to cope with the loss, hence the vital need for psychosocial support.

PS Agengo noted that the accident has left behind families struggling to cope with loss, children without parents, and a community mourning members who were still active contributors to the local economy. She assured Nyakach residents that the government would stand with them throughout the mourning period and beyond.

Additionally, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, outlined the government’s structured response through the formation of three committees—Medical, Social and Bereavement, and Funeral Committees.

The Medical Committee, he said, has mobilised additional medical specialists, including three orthopaedic surgeons and two neurosurgeons on temporary employment, to ensure all patients receive the required interventions immediately, most of which involve surgeries. The team will also oversee post-mortem arrangements.

The Social and Bereavement Committee, led by PS Agengo, will coordinate counselling and emotional support for the families, while the Funeral Committee, in collaboration with the community, will manage logistics for the burial arrangements.

Dr. Oluga expressed gratitude to the county government and the local community for their collaboration, reaffirming that the national government has taken over coordination of the support to ensure no affected family is left unattended.