A devastating bus crash on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway has claimed the lives of 16 Catholic pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa. The pilgrims were en route to the Subukia National Marian Shrine for National Prayer Day when their vehicle collided with another, resulting in a tragic accident that also claimed a seventeenth victim. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of pilgrims traveling to religious sites in East Africa.
This recent tragedy is not an isolated incident, as a similar collision occurred on the Nyahururu-Nyeri Road in 2024, killing five and injuring nine members of St Peter’s Gaitega in Murang’a Diocese. These fatal road accidents involving pilgrims have become a recurring pattern, highlighting the need for improved safety measures. Kenyan worshippers face numerous hazards, including long-distance treks to Uganda’s Martyrs Shrine at Namugongo, where thousands walk hundreds of kilometres alongside heavy traffic.
The Namugongo route has recorded several deaths, including the 2024 collapse of pilgrim Joseph Chepkurui Sinon after walking 300 km. In 2019, four Kenyan pilgrims were killed by a vehicle during heavy rain on the Iganga-Jinja highway. These incidents demonstrate the risks that pilgrims face, including accidents, exhaustion, and limited medical support. Authorities and religious organisers are urged to address these concerns and implement safety measures.
Similar risks have been reported in Ethiopia, where a landslide at Tsadqane Debre Mitmaq St Mary Monastery in August 2026 killed 14 worshippers and injured seven. In 2025, a scaffolding collapse at Arerti St Mary’s Church caused 36 deaths and over 200 injuries. These incidents highlight the need for improved safety measures, including transport safety, pedestrian protection, medical preparedness, and crowd management.
As the scale of pilgrimages across East Africa continues to grow, concerns about safety and security are becoming increasingly pressing. Authorities and religious organisers are being urged to take proactive measures to mitigate these risks and ensure the safety of pilgrims. This includes improving transportation, providing medical support, and implementing crowd management strategies.
The Kenyan government and religious leaders have been urged to work together to address these safety concerns. This can be achieved by implementing safety protocols, providing adequate medical support, and educating pilgrims about potential risks. By taking these measures, the risk of accidents and fatalities can be significantly reduced.
The growing number of pilgrimages across East Africa has significant economic and social benefits, but it also poses significant safety risks. To mitigate these risks, a comprehensive approach is needed, involving governments, religious leaders, and local communities. By working together, it is possible to ensure that pilgrims can travel safely and securely to their destinations.
Key points
- Authorities and religious organisers are urged to address transport safety, pedestrian protection, medical preparedness, and crowd management to mitigate growing safety risks.
- Recent incidents in Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia have highlighted the need for improved safety measures for pilgrims traveling to religious sites.
- The scale of pilgrimages across East Africa continues to grow, making it increasingly important to address safety concerns.
