A list obtained by TUKO.co.ke has revealed the names of 17 people linked to a St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church group whose journey to Subukia National Shrine ended in tragedy at Salama, Makueni County.
The group was travelling from St Mathias Mulumba Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, to Subukia in Nakuru County for a National Prayer Day when the matatu was involved in a multi-vehicle crash along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway shortly after midnight, early Saturday.
The list contains the names of 16 parishioners and the driver, although it remains unclear who among those listed perished in the accident.
Police reported that 17 people died in the multi-vehicle crash, while six others were injured. The bodies were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital mortuary as authorities continued investigations.
List of Mombasa pilgrims involved in Salama accident
The list, believed to have been prepared before the journey to account for the pilgrims and their respective small christian communities, contains the following names:
- Janet Miito – St Rita
- Florence Atieno – St Martin de Pores
- Jane Mwakamba – St Anne
- Josephat Mekonge – St Michael
- Hilkah Orina – St Elizabeth
- Linah Akinyi – St Rita
- Veronicah Musyimi – St Catherine Siena
- Martha Nzyoki – St Benedict
- Ann Mwanthi – St Jude
- Sarap ia Mwarimbo – St Bakhita
- Scholastica Ochieng – Bikira Maria Mkingiwa
- Catherine Joseph – St Augustine
- Beatrice Oluoch – St Augustine
- Veronica Ngandi – St Francis Xavier Choir
- Regina Mwai – St Francis of Assisi
- Samuel Muigai – St Francis of Assisi
- Samuel Mwanyasi – Driver
The parish is still awaiting formal identification of the bodies.
Parish starts process of identifying victims
At the same time, a sombre mood engulfed the Mulumba Parish as families and church officials sought answers following the crash.
Father Augustine Lappe said the parish received news of the accident in the morning and was relying on traffic police investigations as authorities established what happened.
“We received the news of this incident this morning. At the moment, we are relying on information from the traffic police as investigations continue. We have been informed that some of our parishioners have died, but we are still awaiting confirmation of the identities,” Father Lappe said.
The priest said the parish was working with the affected families to travel to the accident scene and identify their loved ones.
“We are organising with the families to travel and identify the bodies of their loved ones so that we can arrange requiem masses for them,” he said.
Father Lappe also said the parish would provide spiritual support to the bereaved families as they navigated the difficult period.
The group had departed Mombasa at about 2:30 pm on Friday, after receiving a blessing at the parish before beginning the journey to Subukia.
The National Prayer Day, organised by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, was scheduled for Saturday, October 3, with Holy Mass set to begin at 9 am.
As the church mourned its members, Father Lappe urged motorists to exercise greater caution, warning that road crashes leave lasting pain for families.
“I urge our drivers to remain vigilant whenever they are on the road. We must do everything possible to prevent these tragedies because when accidents happen, families are left to deal with enormous pain,” he said.
The priest also appealed for prayers for the affected families and the wider parish community.
Mombasa family mourns woman killed in crash
Shillah Rose, who lost her aunt in the accident, said she had relocated to Mombasa for educational purposes and was scheduled to return home at the end of the month.
She recalled that she last spoke to her aunt on Wednesday, when she visited her residence in Mikindani. Her aunt spent the night at her home before leaving the following day.
“My aunt was in good health and lived an active life. She even gave me directions to her home because I was not familiar with the area. I did not know that it would be her final visit to me,” she said.
According to Rose, her aunt left behind two young children, a boy and a girl.
Mombasa leaders also expressed solidarity with the affected families following the tragedy.
Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Nassir urged residents, particularly families and members of St Mathias Mulumba Parish, to remain calm as authorities worked to establish the facts. He said he had spoken with his Makueni counterpart and requested assistance with the medical care and evacuation of survivors.
President William Ruto also mourned the 17 people killed in the Salama crash, sending condolences to the families, parishioners and the wider Catholic community.
Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua similarly sent his condolences to the bereaved families, Mombasa Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde, the clergy and the wider Catholic fraternity.
Area MCA Jackton Madialo also condoled with the affected families, urging them to remain steadfast and united in prayer during the difficult period.
