{
  "id": 11656478,
  "title": "Ruto mourns 17 pilgrims killed in Salama road accident",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/ruto-mourns-17-pilgrims-killed-in-salama-road-accident",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T09:33:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/ruto-mourns-17-pilgrims-killed-in-salama-road-accident/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President William Ruto has expressed his condolences to the families of 17 pilgrims who lost their lives in a tragic road accident at Salama, situated along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in Makueni County. These pilgrims were members of St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, en route to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day. In his message, Ruto conveyed his deepest sympathies to the families, friends, parishioners, and the wider Catholic community. He stated, \"We are deeply saddened by the loss of 17 pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, in a road accident at Salama while traveling to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day.\" Ruto added, \"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families, friends, parishioners and the entire Catholic community. We stand with them in this difficult time and pray that God bestows upon them strength, comfort, and peace.\" The unfortunate incident took place shortly after midnight on Saturday, when a lorry, having lost control after its brakes failed, collided with multiple vehicles, including a 14-seater matatu carrying the pilgrims.",
  "summary": "President William Ruto has sent condolences to the families of 17 pilgrims who died in a road accident at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in Makueni County. The victims were pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, who were travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day. In a […] The post Ruto mourns 17 pilgrims killed in Salama road…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "Salama road crash kills 17 pilgrims heading to Subukia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/salama-road-crash-kills-17-pilgrims-heading-to-subukia",
        "published": "2026-10-03T07:14:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "President Ruto mourns 17 pilgrims killed in Salama road crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/president-ruto-mourns-17-pilgrims-killed-in-salama-road-crash",
        "published": "2026-10-03T08:49:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}