Names of 17 people linked to a Catholic parish pilgrimage from Mombasa have emerged following a deadly road crash in Salama, Makueni County.
The group had departed from St Mathias Mulumba Parish in Mikindani and was travelling to Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County for the National Prayer Day.
Their journey was cut short after the matatu they were travelling in was involved in a multi-vehicle collision along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Police reported that 17 people were killed in the crash, while six others sustained injuries and were taken for medical treatment.
The bodies of those who died were transferred to the Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital mortuary as investigations into the accident continued.
Preliminary list of pilgrims released
A list prepared before the pilgrimage has provided the names of 16 parishioners and their driver.
The document is believed to have been prepared to account for pilgrims and the Small Christian Communities they belonged to during the journey.
However, the parish had not established which individuals on the list were among those killed in the crash.
The names released were Janet Miito of St Rita, Florence Atieno of St Martin de Pores and Jane Mwakamba of St Anne.
Also listed were Josephat Mekonge of St Michael, Hilkah Orina of St Elizabeth and Linah Akinyi of St Rita.
Veronicah Musyimi was listed under St Catherine Siena, while Martha Nzyoki belonged to St Benedict and Ann Mwanthi to St Jude.
Sarap ia Mwarimbo was listed under St Bakhita, while Scholastica Ochieng was associated with Bikira Maria Mkingiwa.
Catherine Joseph and Beatrice Oluoch were both listed under St Augustine, while Veronica Ngandi was associated with the St Francis Xavier Choir.
Regina Mwai and Samuel Muigai were listed under St Francis of Assisi, the same Small Christian Community linked to the driver, Samuel Mwanyasi.
Parish awaits formal identification
The preliminary list has been released as families and church officials await formal identification of the victims.
A sombre mood has reportedly settled over St Mathias Mulumba Parish as relatives seek information about their loved ones.
The parish is continuing with the identification process before individual victims can be formally confirmed.
Authorities are also expected to provide further details as investigations into the fatal collision continue.
The tragedy has left families and members of the Mombasa Catholic community awaiting answers about the fate of the pilgrims who had set out for Subukia.
