Jubilee Party leader Fred Matiang’i visited St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, on Monday to console families mourning 17 parishioners killed in a road crash while travelling to Subukia National Shrine for National Prayer Day.

He asked parish priest Father Maingi to maintain a register of families affected by the tragedy, emphasizing the need to identify children who have lost parents or guardians.

Matiang’i highlighted education as a priority for orphaned children and urged donors to channel assistance through the church’s fund‑raising mechanisms.

He warned political leaders against disappearing after funeral ceremonies, urging continued engagement with bereaved families beyond the mourning period.

Matiang’i relayed a personal condolence message from former President Uhuru Kenyatta to Father Maingi and noted a contribution of Sh500,000 toward funeral costs.

While urging support for families, he cautioned against politicising the mourning period, stating that investigations into the crash should proceed without turning the tragedy into a political confrontation.

The crash, which occurred early Saturday around 12.10 am on the Nairobi‑Mombasa Highway near Mlima Kiu‑Salama, involved a lorry colliding with several vehicles, including a Toyota Hiace carrying the pilgrims, killing 17 people.

The National Transport and Safety Authority has dispatched a multidisciplinary team to investigate, identifying the Mlima Kiu‑Salama stretch as a known black spot.

Matiang’i concluded by urging Kenyans to keep praying for the bereaved families, widows and orphaned children, stressing that the focus should remain on long‑term support rather than blame.