President William Ruto expressed condolences to the families of 17 pilgrims killed in a road accident near Salama, Kenya. The victims were members of St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, traveling to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day. The crash occurred along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in Makueni County.
The pilgrims were en route to a religious event when the accident happened. The victims were part of a group traveling from Mombasa to Nakuru County. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation. Local authorities confirmed the number of fatalities and are working with church representatives to support the affected families.
This incident highlights the dangers of travel on Kenya’s major highways, particularly during religious pilgrimages. The Nairobi-Mombasa Highway is a critical route for both commercial and religious travel. Previous reports have noted frequent accidents on this stretch, though no official statistics were provided. The National Prayer Day, which the pilgrims were attending, is an annual event held at the National Shrine in Subukia. The church has not yet issued a formal statement on the incident.
