BY ERESTINAH JANE
OCTOBER 5, 2026
Jubilee Party leader and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has joined families and Catholic faithful at St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, in mourning the 17 pilgrims who died in the Salama road crash.
Matiang’i visited the parish on Monday, October 5, to condole with families who lost their loved ones in the accident as the Catholic community continued to come to terms with the tragedy.
The victims were travelling from Mikindani to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the National Prayer Day when their journey was cut short by the fatal crash at Mlima Kiu in the Salama area of Makueni County, shortly after midnight on October 3.
The accident involved several vehicles, including a Toyota Hiace carrying the pilgrims and a lorry travelling from Nairobi towards Mombasa. Police said the lorry was involved in a series of collisions before crashing head-on with the matatu.
All 17 occupants of the pilgrims’ vehicle died in the crash. The victims comprised 16 pilgrims and their driver, all members of St. Mathias Mulumba Parish, according to the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.
Matiang’i expressed his sorrow over the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved families, the parish, clergy and the wider Catholic community.
“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.
He called for prayers for the deceased and their families while also wishing those injured in the crash a speedy recovery.
“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,” he said.
The tragedy has left families and the wider Mombasa Catholic community mourning the sudden loss of their relatives, friends and fellow parishioners.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa has released the names of the 17 victims and appealed to the faithful to pray for their souls and for strength for their families.
The National Transport and Safety Authority has dispatched a multidisciplinary investigation team to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash, including vehicle inspection and compliance.
NTSA has also identified the Mlima Kiu-Salama stretch as a black spot and urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, avoid dangerous overtaking and observe lane discipline as investigations continue.
The crash has renewed concerns over road safety along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway, particularly at sections identified as accident-prone.
At St. Mathias Mulumba Parish, the mourning continues as families prepare to lay their loved ones to rest. The parish had sent the pilgrims on what was expected to be a spiritual journey to Subukia, but the trip ended in tragedy.
Matiang’i also called for continued support for families affected by the crash, particularly children who may have lost parents or guardians, urging the church and other stakeholders to ensure assistance continues beyond the funeral period.
For the bereaved families and the Mikindani Catholic community, the focus now remains on mourning their loved ones, supporting one another and praying for the departed as investigations into the fatal crash continue.
