At least 17 people died in a severe collision involving multiple vehicles on a Kenyan highway. The incident occurred in the Salama region, on a major road connecting Nairobi, the capital, to Mombasa, a coastal city. The crash happened after midnight and involved a truck attempting to overtake another heavy vehicle, which led to a chain reaction collision with several other cars, including a minibus carrying pilgrims. The driver of the minibus and all 16 of his passengers died at the scene, with the majority of the victims being women. The victims were Catholic pilgrims traveling to Nakuru county, located west of Nairobi, to participate in a prayer event. Martin Kivuva, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa, confirmed that the group was on their way to the spiritual gathering. Kenyan President William Ruto expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Catholic community, acknowledging the tragedy and the loss of life. The Kenyan National Transport and Road Safety Authority urged drivers to exercise caution, particularly avoiding dangerous overtaking and adhering to traffic rules. The area where the crash occurred has been labeled a "black spot," a term used to describe a location with a high frequency of accidents. Authorities had previously recommended improvements to road safety in this area, but such incidents continue to occur regularly. Road accidents are a persistent issue in Kenya and across several East African countries. Factors contributing to these incidents include speeding, poorly maintained vehicles, and inadequate road infrastructure. This tragedy underscores the ongoing challenges in road safety and the urgent need for continued efforts to reduce the number of fatal accidents.