KISUMU: Barely a week after a road accident at the Coptic roundabout in Kisumu claimed 26 lives, residents on Saturday morning woke up to find the junction mysteriously demolished.

The demolition, carried out overnight without public notice, left only heaps of soil and debris at the busy Kisumu–Kakamega Highway interchange.

By mid-morning, Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) teams were already on-site, clearing rubble with heavy machinery as traffic police directed vehicles.

The move has sparked confusion among locals and leaders, with many questioning who ordered the demolition and what plans exist for redesigning the junction.

No official statement had been issued by authorities by Saturday afternoon.

Leaders from Kisumu County have repeatedly warned that the section poses a deadly risk. Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o insisted that the government must review not just the roundabouts but the entire highway’s design.

His deputy, Mathews Owili, described the area as a “death trap,” urging immediate intervention.

Kisumu Central MP Joshua Oron echoed the concerns, saying “countless lives” had been lost at the spot and predicting more fatalities if urgent measures are not taken.