Kenya investigates crash that killed 17, mostly Catholic pilgrims
Police linked the Salama collision to a truck’s failed overtaking attempt. The National Transport and Safety Authority has sent investigators to establish what happened.
At least 17 people died after a multi-vehicle crash in Salama, about 90 kilometres southeast of Nairobi. Most were Catholic pilgrims travelling to a prayer site in Nakuru County.
The crash happened after midnight on Saturday on the highway to Mombasa, police said. They said a truck driver’s failed attempt to overtake another truck led to a collision involving several vehicles, including a van carrying the pilgrims. The account is not a final finding.
The van’s driver and 16 passengers died at the scene, police said. Most of the passengers were women.
Kenya’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) dispatched investigators to establish the circumstances of the collision. The authority described the stretch as a known “black spot” and said it had made recommendations to address safety concerns.
Local media, citing NTSA figures, reported 5,009 road deaths in Kenya last year and 2,150 in the first six months of 2026.
