Sixteen pilgrims from St. Matthias Mulumba Catholic Church in Mombasa were killed on Saturday night in a road accident at Salama along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway, and those who knew them are now grappling with haunting details of how they spoke before they left.
The group was travelling to Subukia in Nakuru county for a national prayer pilgrimage when the crash occurred. Among the 16 victims was one additional fatality, bringing the total number of deaths confirmed by authorities to 17.
Salama pilgrims’ final words unsettle those left behind
As reported by NTV, priests at Mekindani Parish’s St. Matthew Mulumba Catholic Church say some of the pilgrims marked the occasion with an unusual depth of reflection before boarding.
According to Fr. Maingi, a number of them spoke in spiritual terms that left an impression on those around them. One detail that has stayed with church leaders is that some of the pilgrims mentioned it was their first time travelling beyond Taita Taveta.
“I think it was not a coincidence,” the priest said, suggesting the conversations carried a weight that only became apparent in hindsight.
A special memorial mass was held at the church to honour those who perished, as families began the devastating process of arranging their funerals.
Post-mortems completed, seven bodies repatriated
Authorities at Sultan Hamoud Hospital in Makueni County confirmed that autopsies on all 17 victims have been concluded. Medical officials said most of the deceased sustained multiple soft tissue injuries, bone fractures and severe head injuries, with extensive blood loss cited as the primary cause of death in many cases.
“We have so far done all 17 post-mortems successfully. We have finished on time. Most of the bodies had multiple soft tissue injuries, multiple bone fractures and head injuries,” a medical official stated.
Seven bodies had already been repatriated to various destinations by the time of the report. Grief-stricken family members visited the mortuary to identify their loved ones, with many struggling to process the suddenness of their loss.
The truck driver involved in the crash sustained injuries and was transferred to Makueni Referral Hospital, where he was said to be stable and receiving treatment.
Mombasa County Government announced it would cover the burial costs for the 16 pilgrims, offering some relief to families already overwhelmed by sorrow.
The Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mombasa used the occasion to call on the government to widen the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, describing the volume of traffic on the corridor as far beyond what the current road can safely handle.
