Salama crash: Families recall final conversations with victims

St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish priests offer prayers for the family members of the Salama crush victims at the church on Saturday / BRIAN OTIENO

When Sarah Nashivanda called her mother at 8 pm on Friday, she wanted to know how she was faring and when they would begin their journey to Subukia in Nakuru County.

Her mother was among pilgrims from St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, travelling for the annual Catholic National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Marian Shrine.

Hours later, Nashivanda learnt that her mother was among those involved in a road accident at Salama in Makueni County.

Nashivanda and her mother had met at around 11 am on Friday.

“My daughter, I have left you with everything. Just take care of yourself and remain safe,” those were the words Nashivanda recalls her mother telling her during that last physical meeting.

During their last phone conversation at around 8 pm Friday, her mother promised to call her again once they reached their destination.

“She has been the perfect role model, a mum and a dad to me. It’s so hard to take it, but all in all I just have to accept it. There is nothing I can do. It is God’s plan,” she said.

“I can’t undo it. Whatever God has planned, it is the way it is, and it has a reason. There is a purpose why it has happened. I’ll be strong for her.”

They are a family of four, including three children raised by a single mother.

“I have two brothers, and I am the last born, the only daughter she had,” Nashivanda said.

A sombre mood engulfed St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, on Saturday morning during a special service held after 16 of the church members perished in a road accident.

As the service went on, family members of those who died were overwhelmed with grief, with some wailing in the middle of the service while others collapsed in agony.

Margaret Mregi, a member of the church, said they were dumbfounded by the news, describing it as beyond their worst nightmares.

“It was a shock to us. This has never happened to our church. It is the first time. Our fellow Christians and pilgrims were on their pilgrimage, but we heard they never got to reach their destination,” Mregi said.

The church members were travelling in two shuttle minibuses, one of which was involved in an accident involving several cars and a truck that had lost control.

“For real, it is heartbreaking. But because we are Christians and we walk in faith, let the will of God be done. It is a journey that everyone will partake,” Mregi said.

She said the only solace is that the 17 died in the Lord.

Mregi said her best friend, Anna Mwangi, was among those who perished.

“We have also lost four of our choir members, including our choir chair Scholastica Ochieng,” Mregi said.

Father Agostine Lape, a priest at St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, said they were currently trying to offer consolation and counselling to the affected families.

“We have been in discussion with the families on how we will go and identify the bodies and how further programs can be arranged,” the priest said.

He said they were now dealing with the most important thing, not only for the family members of the deceased but also the entire church, which is how to manage the shock.

Mombasa Catholic Archbishop Martin Kivuva and Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Kimengich will offer spiritual guidance and support to the families of the victims.

The priest offered condolences to the affected families.

“We pray for this road carnage to end. This is too much to take in. Getting, every time, news that we’ve lost a whole vehicle of people is disheartening. It is not the first time we have heard this,” the priest said.

He called on drivers, traffic police, passengers and all other road stakeholders to be extra careful on the roads, even as the church prays for the road carnage to end.

“We pray for all drivers, and we pray even for the policemen who are manning those roads. We thank the police for the information,” he said.

The priest revealed that the journey to Subukia started after 2.30 pm when the travelling party was prayed for and blessed at the church.

But according to Nashivanda, the actual journey may have started after 8 pm because when she called her mother, she informed her they were in prayers so they could begin the journey.

Mikindani MCA Jactone Madialo said they were making arrangements to offer support of any kind to the affected families.

Sheila Rose, who lost an aunt, said she last talked with her aunt on Wednesday when she visited her in Mikindani.

“I went to her house on Tuesday, spent the night there and left on Wednesday. I am in Mombasa for an attachment,” Rose said.

She described her aunt, Scholastica Ochieng, as an active and social person.

“She had been showing me the way to her house because I am unfamiliar with this neighbourhood. She told me the next time I come she may not be around to show me the way, so I had to master it, and I must come so I could meet my niece who is still in school.

“I did not know she meant that I would be coming to her house when she is dead,” Rose, who was overwhelmed with emotions, said.

Overwhelmed family members of victims of the Salama crush at St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish on Saturday morning / BRIAN OTIENOOverwhelmed family members of victims of the Salama crush at St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish on Saturday morning / BRIAN OTIENOMembers of the St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish gather at the church for special prayers on Saturday morning / BRIAN OTIENO