BREAKING: 17 Catholic Church Members Dead After Matatu Heading to Subukia Crashes on Mombasa Road

Seventeen Catholic church members from St Mathias Mulumba Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, have died in a road accident while travelling to Subukia National Shrine for the National Prayer Day.

The accident happened at about 1am at Salama in Kilome, Makueni County, along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. The group was travelling to Subukia when the 14-seater matatu they were using was involved in a crash with two trailer lorries.

Mombasa Archbishop Martin Kivuva confirmed the deaths and said the victims were members of St Mathias Mulumba Parish.

The group had left Mombasa as part of a journey to attend the National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Shrine.

Dr Stephen Mwangangi, the Medical Superintendent at Sultan Hamud Sub County Hospital, said all 14 people inside the matatu died at the scene.

Three other people also lost their lives, bringing the total number of deaths to 17.

They were taken to hospital for treatment and were later discharged. One driver who suffered serious injuries was moved to Makueni County Referral Hospital for further treatment.

Police said the crash happened after two trailer lorries travelling in the same direction hit each other from behind.

The collision then led to another crash involving the matatu, which was travelling towards Nairobi.The accident has left families and members of the Mikindani Catholic community mourning the sudden loss of their loved ones.

The victims were travelling to Subukia for the National Prayer Day, a major Catholic event that attracts thousands of faithful from different parts of Kenya.

The Subukia National Shrine is an important place of worship for Catholics and hosts major religious gatherings.

Archbishop Kivuva sent his condolences to the families of the victims and the parish. He asked Catholics to pray for the souls of those who died and for strength for their families during the difficult period.

He also urged the wider Archdiocese of Mombasa to remain united in prayer as the church community comes to terms with the tragedy.

ProfAmor [email protected]