Grief as 17 Parishioners Headed to Kenya’s Subukia Shrine for National Prayers Perish in Road Accident

Fifteen pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Mikindani Parish died in a road accident while traveling to the Subukia National Marian Shrine in the Diocese of Nakuru. The Archdiocese of Mombasa announced the deaths on Saturday, October 3, stating the group was traveling to the shrine for National Prayer Day.

The accident occurred at Salama, approximately six hours from the shrine. While the Archdiocese of Mombasa initially reported 17 deaths, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, clarified that 15 people died in the crash.

Archbishop Makumba expressed condolences to Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde and Archbishop Dominic Kimengich during an opening address at the prayer event. He noted the solidarity of the bishops' conference with the Archdiocese of Mombasa following the tragedy.