NAIROBI, Kenya — At least 17 people, including Catholic pilgrims travelling to a prayer site, have been killed in a horrific road crash along a major highway in Kenya.
The fatal accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday in Salama, along the highway leading to the coastal port city of Mombasa.
According to local officials, a truck driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle when the truck collided with a minivan carrying Catholic pilgrims.
The minivan was reportedly carrying 14 pilgrims and their driver. All those travelling in the vehicle were killed in the crash, while three people in the truck also lost their lives.
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Justus Mwanzia, a member of the county assembly, described the incident as a tragic accident.
“We witnessed an accident that is quite tragic,” Mwanzia said.
The pilgrims were reportedly travelling to a prayer site in Nakuru County, west of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi.
Martin Kivuva, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, saying he and the Catholic community were grieving the loss of the pilgrims.
The crash has renewed concerns about road safety in Kenya, where serious traffic accidents continue to claim lives.
Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has urged motorists to exercise extreme caution on the country’s roads, particularly when overtaking.
The agency called on drivers to avoid dangerous overtaking, observe lane discipline and exercise greater care while using the highway.
Officials also identified the section of road where the crash occurred as a “black spot” — a location known for a high frequency of serious accidents. Authorities said recommendations had previously been made to address safety concerns along the stretch.
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Road crashes remain a major public safety challenge across Kenya and other parts of Africa. Poor road conditions, speeding, dangerous overtaking and poorly maintained vehicles are among the factors frequently associated with fatal accidents.
Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed his condolences to the families and friends of those killed, as well as parishioners and the wider Catholic community.
The tragedy has left families, the Catholic community and residents mourning the loss of 17 lives in yet another devastating reminder of the dangers faced by road users.
