At Least 17 Killed in Kenya Crash Involving Pilgrims’ Minivan

At least 17 people were killed in a road crash in Salama, Kenya, involving a minivan carrying pilgrims and a truck, according to reports from the scene.

The collision occurred in the early hours of Saturday on a highway leading to the port city of Mombasa. The reported sequence of events was that the truck driver attempted to overtake another vehicle before the crash.

Pilgrims were travelling to Nakuru County

Justus Mwanzia, a member of the county assembly, said the minivan was carrying 14 pilgrims and its driver. He said everyone in the minivan died in the collision, while three people in the truck were also killed.

Martin Kivuva, archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, said the pilgrims were travelling to a prayer site in Nakuru County. Most of the pilgrims were Catholic.

“We witnessed an accident that is quite tragic,” Mwanzia said.

Kivuva described the deaths as leaving the Catholic community “saddened with lots of grief.”

Authorities renew road-safety warning

Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority described the section of road where the collision occurred as a “black spot.” The agency said recommendations had been made to address safety concerns at the location.

The authority also urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, avoid dangerous overtaking and observe lane discipline.

President William Ruto offered condolences to the victims’ families, friends, parishioners and the wider Catholic community.

The identities of those killed were not provided in the available reports. Information on survivors, investigations, arrests or possible charges was also not reported.