A journey that began with faith and prayer has ended in tragedy after at least 17 people were killed in a devastating road crash in Kenya’s Salama area.
The victims, most of them Catholic pilgrims, were travelling from Mombasa towards the Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County when the crash occurred shortly after midnight on Saturday, October 3.
The deadly collision happened along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, about 90 kilometres southeast of Nairobi.
DANGEROUS OVERTAKING PRECEDED THE CRASH
Police said the crash began when a truck driver attempted to overtake another truck but failed to complete the manoeuvre.
The truck then collided with several vehicles, including a 14-seater minibus carrying the pilgrims.
The minibus driver and all 16 passengers died at the scene. Most of the passengers were women.
Several other people were injured, with Kenyan reports indicating that seven people sustained serious injuries and were taken for medical treatment.
A JOURNEY TO SUBUKIA ENDS IN TRAGEDY
The pilgrims were travelling from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church in Mikindani Parish, Mombasa, to attend the National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Shrine.
Mombasa Archbishop Martin Kivuva expressed deep grief over the deaths, while President William Ruto offered condolences to the victims’ families, friends, parishioners and the wider Catholic community.
NTSA LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION
Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has launched an investigation into the crash.
The authority dispatched investigators to establish the circumstances that led to the collision and determine the factors involved.
NTSA has also identified the Mlima Kiu-Salama section as a known black spot, with previous recommendations made to address safety concerns along the route.
A CONTINUING ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE
The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by motorists and passengers on Kenya’s major highways.
Dangerous overtaking, excessive speed, poorly maintained vehicles and road conditions are among the factors frequently associated with serious road crashes in Kenya.
Kenya recorded 5,009 road traffic deaths in 2025, while 2,150 deaths were reported during the first six months of 2026, according to figures cited from NTSA.
For the families of the 17 victims, however, these numbers represent something deeply personal: loved ones who left home on a journey of faith and never returned.
