Mombasa Archbishop Sends Condolences as 17 Catholic Church Members Die on Mombasa Road

Mombasa Archbishop Martin Kivuva and the Catholic community are mourning after 17 pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Parish in Mikindani lost their lives in a devastating road accident in Salama, Kilome, Makueni County.

The pilgrims were travelling from Mombasa to the Subukia National Shrine for the National Prayer Day when the fatal crash occurred at approximately 1am along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.

Archbishop Kivuva confirmed the deaths, identifying the victims as members of St Mathias Mulumba Parish. The tragedy has left relatives, friends and fellow worshippers grieving as the church mourns those who had been travelling to participate in an important religious gathering.

The crash involved a 14-seater matatu and two trailer lorries. According to Dr Stephen Mwangangi, the Medical Superintendent at Sultan Hamud Sub County Hospital, all 14 people travelling in the matatu died at the scene.

Three occupants of one of the trailers also died, bringing the total number of fatalities to 17.

Six other people who survived the accident were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub County Hospital for medical attention. They were later discharged after receiving treatment. One of the drivers, however, suffered serious injuries and was transferred to Makueni County Referral Hospital, where he was expected to receive specialised care.

Preliminary police reports indicated that the accident began when two trailer lorries travelling in the same direction collided from behind. The impact reportedly caused another collision involving the matatu, which was travelling in the opposite direction towards Nairobi.

The pilgrims were heading to the Subukia National Shrine, a major Catholic pilgrimage destination in Kenya, to attend the National Prayer Day. The annual gathering attracts Catholic faithful from various parts of the country who come together for prayer, worship and reflection.

The deaths have cast a dark shadow over the religious event, turning what was expected to be a journey of faith into a painful tragedy for several families.

Following the accident, Archbishop Kivuva urged members of the Catholic Church to pray for the souls of those who died and offer support to their grieving families.

He further called on the faithful to remember St Mathias Mulumba Parish and the wider Archdiocese of Mombasa in their prayers as the church and affected families struggle to cope with the devastating loss.

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