Mombasa church names 17 pilgrims killed in Salama crash

The Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa has released the names of 17 pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish, Mikindani, who died in a road accident at Salama while travelling to Subukia National Shrine for the National Prayer Day.

In a statement dated October 3, Coadjutor Archbishop of Mombasa Dominic Kimengich said the church was mourning the pilgrims who died in the accident.

“We are saddened with lots of grief to announce the untimely passing of seventeen (17) pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba, Mikindani, in an accident that occurred at Salama,” Archbishop Kimengich said.

The pilgrims were travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the National Prayer Day when the accident occurred.

The deceased were identified as Janet Miito, Florence Atieno, Jane Mwakamba, Josephat Mekonge, Hilkah Orina, Linah Akinyi, Veronicah Musyimi, Martha Nzyoki, Ann Mwanthi and Sarapia Mwarimbo.

Others were Scholastica Ochieng, Catherine Joseph, Beatrice Oluoch, Veronica Ngandi, Regina Mwai, Samuel Muigai and Samuel Mwanyasi.

The Archdiocese asked priests serving in its parishes to make special arrangements for prayers for the deceased during Sunday Masses on October 4.

“Let us pray for the repose of their souls as we pray for their families, St. Mathias Mulumba parish and the Archdiocese as a whole, so that we may find solace and consolation in the Lord,” Kimengich said.

The Archbishop concluded the message with a prayer for the victims, saying: “May their souls rest in peace. Amen.”

The pilgrims were among travellers caught up in the deadly crash at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

The accident involved several vehicles, with the pilgrims understood to have been travelling in a matatu headed to Subukia.

The tragedy has plunged St Mathias Mulumba Parish and the wider Catholic community in Mombasa into mourning, as families and fellow worshippers come to terms with the deaths.

The church said special prayers would be offered for the victims and their families as Catholic faithful across the Archdiocese gathered for Sunday Mass.

The National Prayer Day was scheduled to bring together thousands of faithful at the Subukia National Shrine for prayers.

The deaths have also renewed attention on road safety along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway, one of the country's busiest transport corridors.

The Archdiocese urged the faithful to pray for the deceased pilgrims, their families and the parish as the church begins the process of mourning and consoling those affected by the tragedy.

‎The statement was signed by Archbishop Kimengich on behalf of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.