Ruto Issues Statement on Salama Accident that Killed 17

President William Ruto has sent condolences to the families and Catholic community following a road accident at Salama in Makueni County that claimed the lives of 17 pilgrims travelling to Subukia for the National Prayer Day.

The victims were from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, and were travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia when the accident occurred.

In a statement on Saturday, October 3, Ruto mourned the victims and conveyed his condolences to those affected by the tragedy.

"Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of 17 pilgrims from St. Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, in a road accident at Salama while travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia for the National Prayer Day.

"Our heartfelt condolences go to the families, friends, parishioners and the entire Catholic community who are mourning this painful loss," he wrote.

Ruto extended his support to those affected by the accident and prayed for the recovery of those who survived.

"We stand with them in this difficult moment and pray that God grants them strength, comfort and peace. We also pray for the swift recovery of those injured in the accident. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace," he added.

Makueni County Commissioner Abdullahi Khalif confirmed the fatalities and said several other people were injured in the accident.

According to Khalif, the crash occurred after a lorry driver reportedly lost control following brake failure before ramming into five vehicles, including a 14-seater van carrying passengers headed to a prayer service.

The fatalities included the lorry driver, three passengers in the truck and several occupants of the van.

The injured survivors were taken to Sultan Hamud Sub-county Hospital for medical attention. 

The hospital's medical superintendent, Dr Stephen Mwangangi, confirmed that six survivors had been treated and discharged.

The bodies of the deceased were transferred to nearby mortuaries, where they are awaiting post-mortem examinations and identification by their families and friends.

This comes days after two people were confirmed dead and six others injured after a Dreamline bus collided with a truck along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

The accident occurred on Wednesday, September 23 morning at the Mgalani area near Taru in Kwale County. 

Preliminary reports indicate that the Dreamline bus, which was heading toward Mombasa, rammed into the rear of the truck. 

Photos of the accident seen by Nairobileo.co.ke showed the bus extensively damaged at the front end after colliding with the truck. 

The debris from the collision was also scattered across the scene. 

The accident caused disruption along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway, with police officers being deployed to remove the wreckage. 

The busy highway has in recent weeks recorded several accidents involving buses, matatus and trucks.