Seventeen pilgrims from Mikindani Catholic Parish in Mombasa tragically lost their lives in a road accident along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway at Salama, Makueni County.
Authorities clarified that the driver of the Howo truck survived, contrary to earlier reports. He sustained serious injuries and was initially taken to Sultan Hamud Hospital before being transferred to Makueni Level 6 Hospital for further care.
The vehicle involved in the crash, a Toyota Hiace, served as a private van for hire, contracted by Mikindani Catholic Parish to transport the pilgrims to Subukia. Father Patrick Maingi, the parish priest, provided a passenger manifest, confirming the identities of all 17 occupants on Saturday, paving the way for planned autopsies on Sunday.
Police reported that all 17 occupants died in the crash. Additionally, two passengers from a Toyota Noah involved in the accident received treatment at the hospital and have since been discharged.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding this tragic event are ongoing. The postmortem examinations for the 17 victims are scheduled for Sunday at Sultan Hamud Hospital in Makueni County. Hospital administrator Dr. Stephen Mwangangi shared that the victims’ families have already gathered at the facility for this important process. Once completed, the bodies will be transported to Mombasa County.
The victims were on their way to the National Shrine in Subukia for National Prayer Day when the accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) reported that several others sustained injuries in the multi-vehicle crash along this busy highway. A team has been dispatched to the scene to investigate the accident and assess the vehicles involved.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa confirmed that those lost were indeed pilgrims traveling to Subukia. Notably, the accident took place in an area previously identified by NTSA as a black spot, where road safety recommendations had already been made.
President William Ruto expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Kenya officially records around 4,000 road deaths annually, although the government’s road safety action plan suggests the real figure could be much higher due to underreporting.
There is a dedicated campaign underway to address the alarming rate of fatal crashes in the country. Together, we can work towards safer roads for everyone.
