SALAMA, Makueni County—Seventeen pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish, Mikindani, have died in a road accident at Salama in Kilome, Makueni County, along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway.
The pilgrims were travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the National Prayer Day when they were involved in a multi-vehicle crash shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Several other people were injured in the accident and taken to hospital for medical attention. Police and emergency teams responded to the scene as investigations into the crash continued.
President William Ruto has condoled with the families of the victims, their friends and parishioners, as well as the wider Catholic community.
In his message of condolence, Ruto said he was deeply saddened by the deaths and prayed for strength, comfort and peace for the bereaved families. He also prayed for the swift recovery of those injured and for the souls of the deceased to rest in eternal peace.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua also sent condolences to the families and the Catholic Church, extending his sympathies to Mombasa Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde, the clergy and the wider Catholic fraternity in Kenya.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has urged residents to remain calm and warned against circulating unverified information, photographs or identities following the accident.
Nassir said he had spoken with the Makueni Governor and that teams from the two counties were coordinating with relevant authorities as arrangements were made in response to the tragedy.
“On behalf of the County Government and the people of Mombasa, I extend my deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, to St. Mathias Mulumba Parish and to the entire Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa,” Nassir said.
The 17 deceased pilgrims have been identified as Janet Miito, Florence Atieno, Jane Mwakamba, Josephat Mekonge, Hilka Orina, Linah Akinyi, Veronica Musyimi, Martha Nzyoki, Ann Mwanthi, Sarapia Mwarimbo, Scholastica Ochieng, Catherine Joseph, Beatrice Oluoch, Veronica Ngandi, Regina Mwai, Samuel Muigai and Samuel Mwanyasi.
The names were released by Mombasa Coadjutor Bishop Dominic Kimengich.
The deaths have plunged St. Mathias Mulumba Parish and the wider Catholic community into mourning, with the pilgrims having been on their way to a national religious gathering.
Mombasa Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde has urged the faithful to pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for the bereaved families, the parish and the wider Archdiocese.
