At least 17 killed in Kenya highway crash involving pilgrims

At least 17 people were reported killed in a multiple-vehicle collision involving Catholic pilgrims on Kenya’s Nairobi–Mombasa highway, according to the country’s public broadcaster and The Star.

The crash happened shortly after midnight on Saturday in the Salama area of Makueni County. A passenger minibus, trucks and other vehicles were involved. Police were investigating the circumstances, and initial reports differed on how the collision unfolded.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation reported that the pilgrims were travelling from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church in Mikindani, Mombasa, to the Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County for National Prayer Day.

Archbishop Martin Kivuva of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa confirmed that parishioners had died in the crash. KBC also reported that seven injured people had been taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital.

The Star, citing police, reported that the minibus’s driver and 12 passengers died at the scene. It said four people travelling in a truck also died, while other people were injured.

The Associated Press separately reported a minimum of 13 deaths, most of them pilgrims. Its account did not establish how many pilgrims had been travelling in the minibus or whether any survived.

TV47, citing Sultan Hamud hospital medical superintendent Stephen Mwangangi, reported that six survivors had been treated and discharged. The Star said damaged vehicles were being moved to Salama Police Station for inspection.

Eastern regional police commander Stephen Chebet told The Star that investigations were continuing and urged motorists to take care. A definitive cause had not been established in the available reports.