Families of 17 pilgrims who died in a deadly multi-vehicle crash along Kenya’s Nairobi–Mombasa Highway have begun taking their loved ones home following post-mortem examinations at Sultan Hamud Hospital.
The victims, members of St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, were travelling to the Subukia National Shrine for Kenya’s National Prayer Day when the minibus they were travelling in was involved in a crash at Mlima Kiu in the Salama area, shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Footage from the hospital showed relatives and nuns gathered as the victims’ bodies were placed into a vehicle for transportation. Members of the parish community also prayed and sang together before the vehicle carrying the bodies departed.
Parishioner Martin Obwaka said relatives had travelled to the hospital to complete the identification and other procedures before receiving the bodies. He said post-mortem examinations had been completed, allowing the families to begin the process of taking their loved ones home.
All 17 people travelling in the minibus died in the crash, while several people in other vehicles involved in the collision sustained injuries.
Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash and is inspecting the vehicles involved.
The authority has previously identified the Mlima Kiu–Salama stretch as an accident black spot, raising renewed concerns over road safety along the busy highway.
The tragedy has left the Mikindani Catholic community in deep mourning, with the Archdiocese of Mombasa holding special prayers for the victims and their bereaved families.
As the bodies are returned to their families, the community continues to mourn the pilgrims who had set out on a journey of faith but never reached their destination.