Business came to a standstill for the better part of Thursday in Kisumu after protests erupted over death of two boda boda riders.

An irate mob barricaded Ring Road in Nyalenda, Kisumu County after a motorist in a Subaru vehicle reportedly hit two boda boda riders.

The crowd, mostly comprised of boda boda riders, dragged the vehicle to the roadside before torching it.

Police officers in the vicinity were forced to rush to the scene in efforts to avoid escalation of the protests.

The officers were however overpowered by protesters who had turned out in large numbers.

County fire fighters arrived at the scene to quell the fire and disperse the residents who blocked the road.

The Subaru driver survived with injuries and was rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referral Hospital for first aid.

Bodies of the late boda boda riders, who died moments after the accident, were transferred to the hospital’s mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Eight die in Kisumu accident

This comes barely a day after eight people lost their lives in a head-on-collision between a matatu and lorry ferrying sand along the Katito-Kendu Bay highway in Nyakach, Kisumu County.

Eight others escaped death with severe injuries and were rushed to various hospitals for treatment.

The matter sparked outrage from Kenyans online, who urged Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to address the matter.

NTSA Statistics

According to National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), road accidents have claimed the lives of 563 people between January 1 and February 11 this year.

This number is an increase from 537 deaths reported within the same period in 2023.

Pedestrians led in fatalities at 216, compared to 163 last year.

Passenger deaths stood at 109 compared to 98 deaths recorded in 2023.

The number of boda boda riders who died within this period stood at 140 compared to 151 within the same time last year.

Only 35 drivers passed away in road accident.