Catholic faithful gather in Mombasa to mourn 17 pilgrims killed in Salama accident
Tears and grief engulfed the Catholic community in Mombasa as faithful gathered for a prayer Mass to mourn 17 pilgrims who lost their lives in a tragic road crash at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. Emotions ran high during the prayer service as members of the Catholic Church gathered to remember the victims, with some […]
At least 17 individuals lost their lives in a devastating crash on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway near Salama early Saturday morning. The accident, which occurred around 12:10 AM on October 3, 2026, unfolded as a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles. The incident began when a Howo Sinotruk, en route from Nairobi to Mombasa, allegedly overtook a group of vehicles improperly, leading to a collision.
The Sinotruk driver lost control of the truck, which then collided with an oncoming Peugeot and a Toyota Noah traveling from Mombasa to Nairobi. The out-of-control vehicle subsequently veered into the climbing lane and collided head-on with a Toyota Hiace carrying 12 passengers, who tragically perished at the scene. The Sinotruk driver, Shijire, and three other people in the truck also died instantly.
In total, 17 people were killed in this catastrophic incident. The driver of the matatu and all 12 passengers succumbed to their injuries. Several other individuals sustained injuries during the multiple-vehicle collision. Police arrived at the scene, documented the circumstances, and proceeded to transport the victims to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation pending postmortem examinations.
Makueni County Commissioner Khalif Abdullahi confirmed that authorities are actively investigating the accident. The damaged vehicles were subsequently towed to the Salama Police Station yard for further inspection as police continue their inquiries into the incident's circumstances. The tragic accident adds to the growing number of fatal crashes reported along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, a crucial transport artery in Kenya.
On the same day, at least 34 people were killed in separate accidents across the country, including 16 passengers, seven pedestrians, six riders, two pillion passengers, and three drivers. Road safety advocates have persistently advocated for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, responsible driving practices, and measures to curb the increasing fatalities on Kenyan roads.
Written by urgent.news from KahawaTungu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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