Kenya Highway Crash Kills At Least 13 Pilgrims

Around 11 a.m. on Friday, Sarah Nashivanda met her mother for the last time in person. The older woman’s parting words were plain and complete: “My daughter, I have left you with everything. Just take care of yourself and remain safe.”

At 8 p.m. that evening Nashivanda called again. She wanted to know how her mother was faring and when the group would begin the journey to the Subukia National Marian Shrine in Nakuru County for the annual Catholic National Prayer Day. Her mother was among the pilgrims from St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, in Mombasa. During the call the mother promised to phone once they reached their destination. Nashivanda later said that when she rang, her mother told her they were still in prayers so they could start. It was their final conversation.

“I have two brothers, and I am the last born, the only daughter she had,” Nashivanda said. They are a family of four, including three children raised by a single mother.

At the parish, also known as St Mathias Mulumba, the pilgrims received a blessing on Friday. Father Agostine Lape, a priest there, said the journey started after 2:30 p.m., when the traveling party was prayed for and blessed at the church. Nashivanda’s call at 8 p.m., asking about departure timing, placed the actual start nearer eight o’clock. The sources set both times side by side and leave the discrepancy unresolved.

Among those who left was Scholastica Ochieng. Her niece Sheila Rose last met her earlier that week. Rose visited Ochieng’s house in Mikindani on Tuesday, stayed overnight, and left on Wednesday while she was in Mombasa for an attachment. That was their final meeting.

The vehicle carrying the pilgrims was a 14-seater matatu. Some accounts said two shuttle minibuses were traveling together. The party headed inland on the Nairobi–Mombasa Highway, a route of roughly 482 kilometres that forms part of the Northern Corridor, bound for Nakuru.

At about 12:10 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026, the crash came at Mlima Kiu in the Salama area of Makueni County. A truck driver tried to overtake another truck, allegedly failed to keep to his lane, suffered suspected brake failure, lost control and collided with multiple vehicles, including the pilgrims’ van.

The death toll was reported variously as 13 by the Associated Press, citing police, and as 17 by The Star, Radio47, K24, Uzalendo and Radiokaya. In the fuller account the driver and 16 passengers from that van died at the scene. Most of them were women. Seven survivors were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Referral Hospital; six were treated and discharged, and one was transferred for specialized care. Eastern regional police commander Stephen Chebet said investigations were continuing.

By morning the parish in Mikindani was gathering. Family members and parishioners came to the compound of St Mathias Lumumba Catholic Church, many of them in tears. A special service was under way. As it continued, relatives of the dead wailed; some collapsed in grief.

Margaret Mregi, a member of the church, said the news had left them reeling. “It was a shock to us. This has never happened to our church. It is the first time. Our fellow Christians and pilgrims were on their pilgrimage, but we heard they never got to reach their destination.” She added: “For real, it is heartbreaking. But because we are Christians and we walk in faith, let the will of God be done. It is a journey that everyone will partake.” Four of the choir members had died, including the choir chair, Scholastica Ochieng. Mregi’s best friend, Anna Mwangi, was among the dead.

Father Agostine Lape said the priests were already speaking with the families about what had to come next. “We have been in discussion with the families on how we will go and identify the bodies and how further programs can be arranged.”

A road-safety assessment describes it as a 3.2-kilometre section of bends and a steep slope. The assessment tied crashes there to speeding, careless overtaking and overloading, in wet seasons and dry, many of them at night, with heavy commercial vehicles, buses and private cars among those commonly involved.

That ground has taken lives before. In April 2024 a multi-vehicle collision at Mlima Kiu killed 10 people. In February 2026 three died and 11 were injured when a matatu and a trailer collided near the same place. In June 2026 another multi-vehicle crash left 10 dead and 27 injured. In December 2018 four Kenya Defence Forces soldiers died after a military truck lost control at Mlima Kiu near Salama.

The highway carries more than half of all goods traded in the East African Community. In 2013 alone, 3,179 people died on the combined Mombasa–Malaba Road.

President William Ruto offered condolences to the families, friends, parishioners and the Catholic community. Archbishop Martin Kivuva of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa mourned with the faithful and urged prayers for the repose of the dead. Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sheriff Nassir said he was coordinating with Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. as the counties worked through what had to come next.

About 30 parishioners were expected to travel to Sultan Hamud to identify the bodies. Mikindani MCA Jactone Madialo said arrangements were already under way to offer support of any kind to the affected families.

Sarah Nashivanda spoke of the woman who had raised her. “She has been the perfect role model, a mum and a dad to me. It's so hard to take it, but all in all I just have to accept it. There is nothing I can do. It is God's plan.” She went on: “I can't undo it. Whatever God has planned, it is the way it is, and it has a reason. There is a purpose why it has happened. I'll be strong for her.”

Radio47 published the names of the 17 dead together with the Small Christian Community groups, the jumuiyas, each had attended: Janet Miito of St. Rita; Florence Atieno of St. Martin de Pores; Jane Mwakamba of St. Peter Anne; Josephat Mekonge of St. Michael; Hilkah Orina of St. Elizabeth; Linah Akinyi of St. Rita; Veronicah Musyimi of St. Catherine Siena; Martha Nzyoki of St. Benedict; Ann Mwanthi of St. Jude; Sarapia Mwarimbo of St. Bakhita; Scholastica Ochieng of Bikira Maria Mkingiwa; Catherine Joseph of St. Augustine; Beatrice Oluoch of St. Augustine; Veronica Ngandi of St. Francis Xavier Choir; Regina Mwai of St. Francis of Assisi; Samuel Muigai of St. Francis of Assisi; and Samuel Mwanyasi, the driver.

The identification party was bound for the mortuary at Sultan Hamud.