Grisly Makueni Road Crash Claims 17 Lives, Authorities Launch Investigation
A tragic multi-vehicle crash on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway killed 17 people, including Catholic pilgrims en route to a National Prayer Day, and injured seven others. Authorities have launched an investigation into the accident at Salama Hill, identified as a black spot, as national leaders express widespread condolences and call for enhanced road safety.
A horrific road accident on Saturday, October 3, 2026, claimed the lives of 17 people, including 16 Catholic pilgrims and their driver, at Salama Hill (also known as Mlima Kiu) on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway in Makueni County. Seven other individuals sustained serious injuries in the multi-vehicle crash, which occurred shortly after midnight, around 1 am.
Makueni County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi confirmed the accident, detailing that a 14-seater matatu, christened “ASWAP,” was among several vehicles utilizing the climbing lane towards Nairobi when it collided head-on with a lorry traveling in the opposite direction. It is suspected that the lorry, which was carrying ballast and moving from Nairobi to Mombasa, may have lost its brakes. The lorry driver's desperate attempt to return to his lane proved futile, leading to a collision with another truck and subsequently involving more than five other vehicles. Catholic books and devotional items, such as rosaries, were found scattered at the scene.
The deceased pilgrims were members of St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish in Mombasa, and were en route to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the annual National Prayer Day. Father Augustine Lape, a parish priest at the church, stated that the entourage had been blessed before their journey and affirmed that their driver was not speeding, with all occupants who perished being adults. Sarah Nashivanda, who lost her mother in the crash, recounted their last conversation hours before her mother departed for the shrine. Margaret Muregi also shared her grief, having lost four friends and the choir leader, Ms. Scholastica Ochieng, in the ill-fated shuttle. Only one of two shuttles carrying pilgrims was involved in the crash.
The seven injured individuals were initially evacuated by an emergency team from Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for treatment. Six survivors were discharged on Saturday morning, while the truck driver, who suffered serious head injuries, was transferred to Makueni County Referral Hospital.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. A multidisciplinary crash investigation team has been dispatched to Salama to ascertain the full circumstances, including vehicle inspection and compliance. NTSA has identified the Mlima Kiu-Salama stretch as a notorious black spot and urged all motorists to exercise extreme caution, avoid dangerous overtaking, and strictly observe lane discipline. Police and emergency teams are continuing their investigations, with the damaged vehicles towed for further examination.
The tragic loss prompted a wave of condolences from national leaders. President William Ruto expressed his profound sadness, describing the deaths as a painful loss and extending heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends, parishioners, and the wider Catholic community. Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of the Archdiocese of Mombasa called on Catholics to pray for the souls of the departed and for their grieving families, St. Mathias Mulumba Parish, and the Archdiocese. Other prominent figures, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Patriotic Front leader Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i, Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherriff Nassir, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, and Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, also offered their condolences and urged greater commitment to road safety. The Legion Maria of the African church appealed to Kenyans for unity in prayer for the victims and their families.
The National Shrine in Subukia, the pilgrims' destination, is a significant site where Catholics engage in deep prayer, pilgrimage devotions, and healing rituals dedicated to the Holy Family and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pilgrims typically ascend a steep, stony path featuring 14 to 15 stations representing Jesus' journey to the crucifixion, and descend a path marked with 20 stations reflecting the mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Many visit a miraculous hilltop spring, believing its water possesses physical and spiritual healing properties.