NAIROBI, Kenya — Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has called on the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) to urgently address the deteriorating condition of the Kisumu-Busia highway, warning that the road has become a major safety hazard for motorists and residents in western Kenya.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Omtatah described the highway as one of the most dangerous transport corridors in the region, citing widespread potholes, faded road markings, inadequate signage, narrow carriageways, and persistent bottlenecks that continue to expose road users to accidents.
The senator said the road, which passes through the counties of Kisumu, Vihiga, Siaya, and Busia, plays a critical role in regional transport and trade but has suffered years of neglect despite its economic importance.
“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.
“What should be a critical transport and trade corridor has become one of the most dangerous roads in our region.”
According to the senator, the poor state of the highway has contributed to numerous road crashes, some of which have resulted in fatalities and serious injuries.
“Every week, we hear of another tragic accident. Families lose loved ones. Breadwinners never make it home. Children are left without parents. Vehicles are damaged, businesses disrupted and communities forced to bear the heavy cost of a problem that can and should be fixed,” he said.
Omtatah called on KeNHA to immediately repair damaged sections of the road and fill potholes along the entire corridor to improve safety and ease transport challenges faced by motorists.
Beyond routine maintenance, the senator demanded a comprehensive plan for upgrading the highway, including expansion of high-traffic sections and the dualization of identified blackspots and major market centres where congestion and accidents are common.
He also urged the authority to implement additional road safety measures, including the installation of proper signage, the repainting of road markings, the construction of pedestrian crossings, and the introduction of traffic-calming measures near schools, trading centres, and other densely populated areas.
The Kisumu-Busia highway serves as a key gateway linking Kenya to neighbouring Uganda and the wider East African region. It carries significant volumes of passenger and cargo traffic, making its condition critical to trade, regional integration, and economic growth.
Omtatah said residents of western Kenya deserve safer infrastructure and responsive leadership that prioritises preventive action rather than reacting after lives have been lost.
“The people of Kisumu, Vihiga, Siaya, and Busia deserve safe roads. They deserve leadership that responds to their concerns before lives are lost, not after,” he said.
