A tragic road accident on a highway leading to the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa has claimed the lives of at least 17 people. The incident occurred in the Salama area shortly after midnight on Saturday, involving multiple vehicles, including a van transporting a group of pilgrims.
According to local police, the crash was triggered when a truck driver attempted to overtake another truck but failed, resulting in a collision with the pilgrims' van and other vehicles. The driver of the van and 16 passengers, the majority of whom were women, were killed at the scene.
Martin Kivuva, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, confirmed that the victims were traveling to a prayer site located in Nakuru County, west of the capital, Nairobi. Expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, the Archbishop stated, “I am saddened with lots of grief” and urged the public to pray for the souls of the deceased and their grieving families.
Road accidents remain a significant concern across the African continent. Officials often attribute such fatal incidents to a combination of excessive speed, poor road conditions, and the operation of poorly maintained vehicles.
