At least 17 people, mostly pilgrims, killed in Kenya road crash
A multi-vehicle crash in Kenya's Salama area resulted in the deaths of at least 17 people, most of whom were Catholic pilgrims traveling to a prayer site. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident on the notoriously dangerous highway.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing road safety concerns and infrastructure challenges in East Africa.
The multi-vehicle crash occurred in the Salama area, 90km southeast of Nairobi, killing mostly Catholic pilgrims.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info People view the wreckage of a minibus that was involved in an accident killing all the passengers, in the Salama area in eastern Kenya, on October 3, 2026 [Andrew Kasuku/ AP Photo] By AFP and AP Published On 3 Oct 2026 3 Oct 2026 At least 17 people, most of them Catholic pilgrims on the way to a prayer site, have been killed in a crash involving multiple vehicles on the highway to the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.
The crash in the Salama area, about 90 kilometres (about 55 miles) southeast of the capital Nairobi, happened after midnight, police said on Saturday.
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