Father Augustine Lappe says his parish is still waiting for official word on which of its members died when a matatu carrying pilgrims to Subukia was hit in the Salama crash.
The priest of St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani addressed the press outside the church on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
He said the parish got news of the accident in the morning and has since depended on traffic police for updates as investigations continue.
Father Lappe confirmed that church officials have been told some parishioners died, but he said the identities have yet to be verified.
The pilgrims left Mombasa at about 2:30pm on Friday after receiving a blessing at the parish.
They were headed to Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County for the National Prayer Day organised by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Holy Mass was scheduled for 9am on Saturday.
The matatu was caught in a multi-vehicle collision along the Mombasa-Nairobi Highway shortly after midnight.
Police say 17 people died and six others were injured, with the bodies taken to the Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital mortuary.
The priest said the parish is arranging with the families to travel to Makueni to identify their loved ones.
“So that we can arrange requiem masses for them,” he said of the plan.
Father Lappe added that the church will walk with the bereaved families and offer them spiritual support in the difficult days ahead.
He also used the moment to appeal to drivers to remain vigilant on the road.
The priest said every effort must be made to prevent such tragedies, since accidents leave families carrying enormous pain.
He asked Kenyans to pray for the affected families and the wider parish community.
A list obtained by TUKO.co.ke names 16 parishioners and the driver, but it does not show who among them died.