President William Ruto has condoled with the families of 17 pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, who were killed in a road accident at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
The pilgrims were travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day when the accident occurred.
The accident occurred at about 12.10am on October 3, 2026, when a lorry travelling from Nairobi towards Mombasa was involved in a series of collisions.
According to police at Salama Police Station, the lorry driver allegedly failed to keep to his proper lane while overtaking a fleet of vehicles and rammed into the rear right side of another lorry.
The impact caused the driver to lose control before the lorry collided sideways with an oncoming Peugeot and a Toyota Noah.
Police said the lorry then swerved into the climbing lane, where it collided head-on with a Toyota Hiace PSV matatu.
The lorry later collided with a Nissan UD travelling from Mombasa towards Nairobi, bringing it to a stop.
Police said the matatu driver and 12 passengers died at the scene. The driver of the lorry and three occupants of the lorry also died, bringing the number of fatalities to 17.
Ruto said he was deeply saddened by the loss and sent his heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, parishioners and the entire Catholic community mourning the tragedy.
He also prayed for the swift recovery of those injured in the accident, while asking God to grant the bereaved strength, comfort and peace.
“May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace,” Ruto said.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also sent his condolences following the crash.
“I have learnt of the road crash at Salama, along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, that has claimed the lives of 17 pilgrims from St Matthias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, with great pain. My thoughts and prayers are with their families, relatives, and the entire Catholic Church on this National Prayer Day being marked by Catholics at the Subukia Shrine in Nakuru," he said.
“To Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa, the clergy and the Catholic fraternity in Kenya, please accept my deepest sympathies on this tragic accident. As we pray for our nation, we remember the faithful departed deeply in our hearts and pray for comfort for their families. May the Almighty God grant eternal rest to our faithful departed."
Jubilee party leader Fred Matiang’i also mourned the 17 pilgrims.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic road crash at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway that has claimed the lives of 17 pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish, Mikindani, Mombasa, as they travelled to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day," Matiang'i said.
“My heartfelt condolences go to the families and loved ones of those we have lost, Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde, the clergy, the St. Mathias Mulumba Parish community and the entire Catholic fraternity in Kenya. On this National Prayer Day, we join the faithful in prayer for the repose of their souls and for God’s comfort and strength upon the bereaved. We also pray for the full recovery of those injured in this tragedy. May the Almighty God grant the departed eternal rest."
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo also sent his condolences to the families of the victims.
“The loss of 17 pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, in the Salama road tragedy is a painful reminder of how quickly a journey can turn into grief. They were on their way to Subukia for the National Prayer Day. Instead, their families received news no family should have to bear," he said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, their parish and the wider Catholic community. We also wish those injured a full and speedy recovery.
The PS urged all road users to exercise the highest level of caution and responsibility.
“May the departed rest in eternal peace, and may God grant their families strength and comfort in this difficult hour,” Omollo said.
