President William Ruto has mourned 17 pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, who died in a grisly road accident at Salama, Makueni County, while travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day.
Ruto sent condolences to the families, friends and fellow parishioners of the victims following the Saturday, October 3 accident along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of 17 pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, in a road accident at Salama while travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day,” Ruto stated.
The President said the tragedy had brought immense pain to the affected families and the wider Catholic community, assuring them of his support during the difficult period.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the families, friends, parishioners and the entire Catholic community who are mourning this painful loss. We stand with them in this difficult moment and pray that God grants them strength, comfort and peace,” he added.
Ruto also prayed for those who survived the crash and were injured, wishing them a swift recovery.
“We also pray for the swift recovery of those injured in the accident. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace,” he stated.
The accident reportedly occurred shortly after midnight when a lorry allegedly lost control after experiencing brake failure before crashing into several vehicles, including a 14-seater matatu.
According to a witness account, the matatu was carrying passengers travelling to the Subukia Shrine in Nakuru County for prayers when it was caught up in the multiple-vehicle collision.
At least seven other victims were reportedly rushed to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for medical attention following the crash.
The circumstances surrounding the accident had not been fully established by the time of publication, with police and emergency responders assessing the scene and working to establish the events leading to the collision.
The crash also caused a major traffic disruption along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, one of the country's busiest transport corridors, with motorists reportedly forced to seek alternative routes as the wreckage was dealt with.
Images of the accident obtained by Vantage Ke showed the 14-seater matatu extensively damaged, with its windscreen shattered and several windows broken.
The Salama tragedy comes amid renewed concerns over the rising number of road accidents and fatalities across Kenya. Just a day earlier, several people were injured in another accident along the Kapiti Plains in Machakos County involving two trailers travelling in opposite directions.
The impact left both lanes blocked, disrupting movement along the highway and triggering a heavy traffic jam that reportedly lasted for up to 10 hours.
According to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), more than 2,100 people were killed in road accidents across Kenya during the first half of 2026. The figure represented an 11 per cent increase compared to the number of fatalities recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
NTSA has identified several factors contributing to road crashes, including speeding, reckless overtaking, poor lane discipline, unsafe crossing points and mechanical failures.
The Salama accident now leaves families and the Mikindani Catholic community mourning 17 parishioners who had been travelling for a day of prayer, while authorities continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the deadly crash.
