Voice of Urdu – International News in English & Urdu

Mombasa Highway Crash Kills 17 Pilgrims in Kenya Multi-Vehicle Collision — AI-generated representative image: A night-time multi-vehicle crash scene on Kenya's Mombasa highway, reflecting a fatal collision involving a truck and a passe

Editorial Team

Catholic pilgrims travelling to Nakuru County died after a truck overtaking attempt failed on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

At least 17 people, most of them Catholic pilgrims travelling to a prayer site, were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on the highway to the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa, police said on Saturday.

The collision occurred after midnight in the Salama area, about 90 kilometres (55 miles) southeast of the capital Nairobi, when a truck driver attempted and failed to overtake another truck.

The crash has devastated a faith community that was journeying together for worship, drawing national attention and condolences from the country's leadership. It also renews concern over road safety on a stretch of highway that authorities have already identified as dangerous.

Kenya's National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has opened an investigation, while the incident adds to a growing toll of road traffic deaths across the country.

What Happened

The crash unfolded when a truck driver tried to overtake another truck and failed, causing a collision with multiple vehicles, including a van carrying the pilgrims, according to police. Kenyan media reported that the pilgrims were travelling in a 14-seater minibus.

The van's driver and 16 passengers, most of them women, died at the scene. The pilgrims were heading to a prayer site in Nakuru County, west of Nairobi, said Martin Kivuva, archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.

In a statement, the archbishop said he and others were "saddened with lots of grief" over the deaths. President William Ruto offered condolences to the families, friends, parishioners and the entire Catholic community "who are mourning this painful loss".

Road Safety Concerns and Past Incidents

Road accidents remain a persistent problem across Africa. In Kenya and elsewhere in the region, such accidents are often blamed on poorly maintained vehicles, excess speed and poor road conditions.

The NTSA noted that the stretch of road where the crash occurred is a known "black spot" and that "recommendations have been made to address safety concerns" regarding the route. Kenya recorded 5,009 road traffic deaths last year, while 2,150 deaths were reported in the first six months of 2026, according to local media citing NTSA figures.

Investigation Underway

The NTSA has launched an investigation into the crash and said it dispatched investigators "to establish the full circumstances leading to the collision".

The authority's acknowledgment that the route is a documented "black spot" points to a recurring safety issue that may be examined as part of the inquiry. Officials have not yet released additional details about the condition of the vehicles involved or the speed at which they were travelling.

What Happens Next

Investigators from the NTSA are working to determine the full circumstances of the collision, and further findings are awaited. The identities of the victims and the process for supporting affected families have not yet been officially detailed.