Okiya Omtatah Demands Urgent Action on Kisumu-Busia Highway, Warns Delays Are Costing Lives
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has issued a strongly worded appeal to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), demanding immediate intervention on the deteriorating Kisumu-Busia highway and warning that continued delays in upgrading the road are exposing thousands of road users to unnecessary danger.
In a statement released on Tuesday, June 16, Omtatah described the highway as one of western Kenya’s most hazardous transport corridors, citing frequent fatal accidents, poor road conditions, and inadequate safety infrastructure.
The senator said the condition of the road has worsened over the years despite repeated concerns from motorists, traders, and local communities who rely on the corridor for daily transportation and commerce.
“For years, the Kisumu-Busia road has been a source of pain and frustration for thousands of motorists, passengers, traders, and families who rely on it every day,” Omtatah said.
According to the lawmaker, large sections of the highway are riddled with potholes, faded road markings, inadequate signage, narrow carriageways, and dangerous bottlenecks that significantly increase the risk of accidents.
He argued that many of the crashes recorded along the route are preventable and accused authorities of failing to act swiftly despite mounting evidence of the danger facing road users.
“Every week, we hear of another tragic accident. Families lose loved ones. Breadwinners never make it home. Children are left without parents. These are not unavoidable tragedies,” he stated.
“The recurring loss of life on this road is a direct consequence of poor infrastructure, inadequate safety measures, and delayed interventions.”
Omtatah called on KeNHA to publicly provide timelines for the planned upgrading and expansion of the highway, saying residents and businesses along the route deserve clarity on when long-promised improvements will be delivered.
Among the senator’s key demands is the immediate repair of damaged sections across the entire corridor, publication of a clear roadmap for expansion works, and the dualling of identified blackspots and high-traffic urban centres.
“Specifically, I demand immediate repair of dangerous potholes and damaged sections along the entire Kisumu-Busia corridor, a clear and publicly available roadmap for the upgrading and expansion of this highway, including the dualling of identified blackspots and high-traffic market centres, and urgent implementation of road safety measures,” Omtatah said.
He further urged authorities to install proper road signs, repaint lane markings, establish pedestrian crossings, and introduce traffic-calming measures around schools, trading centres, and densely populated areas.
The 352-kilometre highway traverses Kisumu, Siaya, Vihiga, and Busia counties and serves as one of Kenya’s most important regional trade corridors. The road provides a critical link between Kenya and neighbouring countries, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, facilitating the movement of goods and people across East Africa.
Omtatah’s demands come months after President William Ruto announced that construction works under the broader Lake Victoria Ring Road project would commence before the end of 2026.
According to the President, the ambitious infrastructure project will cover more than 500 kilometres around the Lake Victoria basin, connecting several counties and strengthening regional trade and economic integration.
The road project has been under discussion for nearly a decade. Initial plans unveiled in 2016 estimated the cost at approximately KSh41.6 billion, with funding expected from the World Bank. However, the budget later rose to nearly KSh70 billion following revisions to the project’s scope and the adoption of modern highway design standards.
KeNHA has indicated that the upgraded road will be constructed to Class B2 standards and will feature a seven-metre-wide carriageway with two-metre shoulders on either side. The design will also accommodate pedestrians and cyclists through dedicated non-motorised transport facilities.
In addition, fibre-optic infrastructure is expected to be installed along the corridor to improve digital connectivity and support economic growth across the Lake Region.
For now, however, Omtatah insists that urgent repairs cannot wait for future mega-projects, arguing that immediate action is needed to prevent further loss of life on one of western Kenya’s busiest highways.
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