NAIROBI, Kenya — A tragic multi-vehicle collision on the highway to Mombasa, Kenya, on Saturday resulted in the deaths of seventeen people, most of whom were Catholic pilgrims traveling to a prayer site.
The incident occurred in the Salama area after midnight, when a truck driver attempted an unsafe overtaking maneuver, leading to a chain-reaction crash that involved a van carrying pilgrims, according to local police reports.
Authorities confirmed that the van’s driver and sixteen passengers, predominantly women, died at the scene of the accident.
The pilgrims were en route to a prayer site in Nakuru County, west of Nairobi, as stated by Martin Kivuva, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.
In a public statement, Archbishop Kivuva expressed profound grief, saying, “We are deeply saddened by this loss,” and urged prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for comfort for their families.
Road accidents continue to pose a serious challenge across Africa, often linked to factors such as vehicle maintenance issues, speeding, and poor road conditions.
