At least 17 people killed in multi-vehicle crash in Kenya

A multi-vehicle crash occurred in the Salama area, 90 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 people, primarily Catholic pilgrims. The incident took place after midnight on Saturday, as reported by police. The crash happened when a truck driver attempted to overtake another truck, leading to a collision with several vehicles, including a van carrying the pilgrims. Reports indicate that the pilgrims were traveling in a 14-seater minibus. The van's driver and 16 passengers, most of whom were women, died at the scene. Martin Kivuva, the archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, stated that the pilgrims were en route to a prayer site in Nakuru County, west of Nairobi, and expressed his grief over the incident. President William Ruto extended condolences to the families, friends, parishioners, and the entire Catholic community affected by this tragedy. Kenya's National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has initiated an investigation into the crash and dispatched investigators to determine the full circumstances surrounding the collision. The NTSA noted that the road segment where the crash occurred is recognized as a 'black spot' and mentioned that recommendations have been made to address safety concerns on this route. Road accidents are a significant issue across Africa, with factors such as poorly maintained vehicles, excessive speed, and poor road conditions often cited as contributing factors. According to local media reports citing NTSA data, Kenya recorded 5,009 road traffic deaths in the previous year, with 2,150 deaths reported in the first six months of 2026.