At least 17 people, mostly pilgrims, killed in Kenya road crash
At least 17 people, mostly Catholic pilgrims, were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on the highway to Mombasa after midnight in the Salama area about 90 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. Police said the accident occurred when a truck attempting to overtake another truck collided with several vehicles, including a 14-seater minibus carrying the pilgrims.
Why It Matters
The crash highlights ongoing road safety problems in Kenya and the region, where high fatality totals and known hazardous stretches of road have prompted official investigations and safety recommendations. Authorities have deployed investigators to determine the full circumstances of the collision.
Key Facts
- Fatalities: 17 people killed (the van’s driver and 16 passengers)
- Victims: Most were Catholic pilgrims, and most of the deceased passengers were women
- Location: Salama area, about 90 km southeast of Nairobi, on the highway to Mombasa
- Vehicle involved: A 14-seater minibus (van) carrying pilgrims and multiple other vehicles including trucks
- Reported cause: Collision happened after a truck failed in an overtaking manoeuvre and struck other vehicles, police said
At least 17 people died in a multi-vehicle crash in the Salama area, on the highway to the coastal city of Mombasa, police said. The accident occurred after midnight when a truck attempting to overtake another truck collided with several vehicles, including a 14-seater minibus carrying Catholic pilgrims. Authorities reported that the minibus driver and 16 passengers—most of them women—were killed at the scene.
The pilgrims were travelling to a prayer site in Nakuru County, the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa said. Archbishop Martin Kivuva expressed deep sorrow in a statement, and President William Ruto extended condolences to the families, parishioners and the broader Catholic community affected by the loss.
Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has launched an investigation and dispatched teams to establish the full circumstances of the collision. The NTSA noted that the stretch of road where the crash occurred is a known "black spot," and previous safety recommendations have been made for the route.
Road traffic deaths remain a significant issue in Kenya and across Africa, often linked to factors such as poorly maintained vehicles, excessive speed and poor road conditions. Local media cited NTSA figures showing 5,009 road traffic deaths last year and 2,150 deaths in the first six months of 2026.
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