Mombasa Catholic Parish Mourns 17 Pilgrims Killed in Salama Crash

The Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa has confirmed the deaths of 17 pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani following a road accident at Salama on Saturday, October 3.

The pilgrims were travelling to the Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County for the National Prayer Day when they were involved in a multi-vehicle collision along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. In a statement issued on October 3, Coadjutor Archbishop of Mombasa Dominic Kimengich said the church had received news of the deaths with profound sorrow.

He said the victims were members of St Mathias Mulumba Parish who had been travelling to the national shrine. The deceased have been identified as Janet Miito, Florence Atieno, Jane Mwakamba, Josephat Mekonge, Hilkah Orina, Linah Akinyi, Veronicah Musyimi, Martha Nzyoki, Ann Mwanthi and Sarapia Mwarimbo.

The other victims are Scholastica Ochieng, Catherine Joseph, Beatrice Oluoch, Veronica Ngandi, Regina Mwai, Samuel Muigai and Samuel Mwanyasi. According to the Archdiocese, the pilgrims were travelling in a matatu towards Subukia when the crash occurred at Salama. 

Several vehicles were involved in the collision, and investigations are expected to establish how the accident occurred and the factors that led to the deaths.

The Archdiocese has directed priests across its parishes to organise special prayers for the deceased during Sunday Masses on October 4.

The prayers are intended to offer spiritual support to the bereaved families and the Mikindani parish community as they mourn the loss. Archbishop Kimengich urged Catholics to pray for the victims and support their families, St Mathias Mulumba Parish and the wider Archdiocese during the mourning period.

The deaths occurred as thousands of Catholic faithful were expected to gather at the Subukia National Shrine for the National Prayer Day. The accident has left the Mikindani parish community mourning as families await the completion of identification and other arrangements following the crash.

The Nairobi-Mombasa highway is a major transport corridor carrying large volumes of public and commercial traffic. The circumstances of Saturday's collision remain under investigation.

For St Mathias Mulumba Parish, the immediate focus is on the victims and their families as the church provides prayers and pastoral support to those affected by the tragedy.The Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa has confirmed the deaths of 17 pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani following a road accident at Salama on Saturday, October 3.

The pilgrims were travelling to the Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County for the National Prayer Day when they were involved in a multi-vehicle collision along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway. In a statement issued on October 3, Coadjutor Archbishop of Mombasa Dominic Kimengich said the church had received news of the deaths with profound sorrow.

He said the victims were members of St Mathias Mulumba Parish who had been travelling to the national shrine. The deceased have been identified as Janet Miito, Florence Atieno, Jane Mwakamba, Josephat Mekonge, Hilkah Orina, Linah Akinyi, Veronicah Musyimi, Martha Nzyoki, Ann Mwanthi and Sarapia Mwarimbo.

The other victims are Scholastica Ochieng, Catherine Joseph, Beatrice Oluoch, Veronica Ngandi, Regina Mwai, Samuel Muigai and Samuel Mwanyasi. According to the Archdiocese, the pilgrims were travelling in a matatu towards Subukia when the crash occurred at Salama. 

Several vehicles were involved in the collision, and investigations are expected to establish how the accident occurred and the factors that led to the deaths.

The Archdiocese has directed priests across its parishes to organise special prayers for the deceased during Sunday Masses on October 4.

The prayers are intended to offer spiritual support to the bereaved families and the Mikindani parish community as they mourn the loss. Archbishop Kimengich urged Catholics to pray for the victims and support their families, St Mathias Mulumba Parish and the wider Archdiocese during the mourning period.

The deaths occurred as thousands of Catholic faithful were expected to gather at the Subukia National Shrine for the National Prayer Day. The accident has left the Mikindani parish community mourning as families await the completion of identification and other arrangements following the crash.

The Nairobi-Mombasa highway is a major transport corridor carrying large volumes of public and commercial traffic. The circumstances of Saturday's collision remain under investigation.

For St Mathias Mulumba Parish, the immediate focus is on the victims and their families as the church provides prayers and pastoral support to those affected by the tragedy.