The identities of the 17 people who died in the Salama road accident while travelling to Subukia for the Catholic Church’s National Prayer Day have been released.
The victims were involved in a multi-vehicle crash at Salama along the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway in Makueni County on Saturday, October 3, morning.
The deceased have been identified as Janet Miito of St. Rita Small Christian Community (Jumuiya), Florence Atieno of St. Martin de Pores, Jane Mwakamba of St. Peter Anne, Josephat Mekonge of St. Michael, Hilkah Orina of St. Elizabeth and Linah Akinyi of St. Rita.
Others are Veronicah Musyimi of St. Catherine Siena, Martha Nzyoki of St. Benedict, Ann Mwanthi of St. Jude, Sarapia Mwarimbo of St. Bakhita, Scholastica Ochieng of Bikira Maria Mkingiwa, Catherine Joseph of St. Augustine and Beatrice Oluoch, also of St. Augustine.
The list also includes Veronica Ngandi of St. Francis Xavier Choir, Regina Mwai of St. Francis of Assisi, Samuel Muigai of St. Francis of Assisi and Samuel Mwanyasi, the driver.
The victims were travelling from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, to the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the National Prayer Day.
Preliminary reports from Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital indicate that a 14-seater Toyota Hiace matatu carrying the pilgrims was involved in the collision, with all 14 occupants reported to have died.
Three other people travelling in one of the trucks involved in the crash also died, bringing the confirmed death toll to 17.
Seven survivors were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital for treatment. Six were treated and discharged, while one truck driver who sustained serious injuries was transferred to Makueni County Referral Hospital for specialised treatment.
Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif said the crash occurred after a trailer attempted to overtake other vehicles around the Mlima Kiu area, resulting in a collision involving several vehicles.
Makueni Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili described the continued loss of lives at the location as distressing, while criticising what she said were unfulfilled promises by the national government to expand the highway.
She said it was worrying that people continued to lose their lives along the road despite repeated commitments to expand it.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation as authorities continue to establish the sequence of events that led to the fatal collision.
Mombasa Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde had earlier confirmed the deaths of the St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish faithful and conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, the parish and the wider Archdiocese of Mombasa.
The Church has called on priests, religious men and women and lay faithful to pray for the repose of the victims’ souls and for strength and consolation for their families and the Catholic community.
