Cornelius Korir, 41, had every intention of travelling with his fellow parishioners from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, on Friday to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru, for the National Prayer Day.
But a lack of space in the van that his colleagues were to use changed his plans and may have saved his life.
He wanted to make the journey and pray with fellow Catholics, so when the Catholic Mission Association, Mikindani branch, offered him money to book public transport, he quickly made arrangements.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Korir left work and headed to the Dreamline booking office.
“At around 4pm, I was at the booking office to book the bus. Later, there was an evening Mass, so I went there as usual. That is when I learnt there was space for one passenger,” he told the Nation in a phone interview from Subukia.
But by then, he had already secured his ticket.
“I told them I had already booked a bus. It was too late; I had already booked a ticket. So, they told me they would find another passenger,” he said.
Cornelius Korir survived the deadly accident that killed 17 pilgrims.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit| NMG
It was only after reaching the shrine that he learnt that the parishioners he had intended to travel with had been involved in a fatal crash at Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
“I was shocked to receive the news that my colleagues had died in a crash. I got the information immediately after I arrived at Subukia. I was called by our Jumuiya chairman. I told him I had just arrived, and he told me I was lucky because my colleagues had crashed in an accident in the Salama area. It was sad news,” he said.
12 of the 17 pilgrims killed in a horrific multi-vehicle highway collision(from left): Florence Atieno, Hilcah Orina, Regina Mwai, Martha Nzyoki, Janet Miito, Veronicah Musyimi, Samuel Muigai, Veronica Ngandi, Scholastica Ochieng, Catherine Joseph, Ann Mwanthi and Josephat Mekonge.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit| NMG
For Mr Korir, the news brought into sharp focus how close he had come to being part of the journey.
“God saved me. I was to travel with them in the vehicle. This is all God. At first there was no space and, by the time I had booked, there was space. This is a mystery that only God can tell,” he said.
Grieving families and relatives gather at St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani Parish, Mombasa on October 3, 2026, to mourn the 17 pilgrims who died in the Salama crash on Friday night.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
He recalled that he had been informed about the available space at around 4.30pm, shortly after leaving work.
“I had left work at around 3.30pm to go and book. I was at the booking office at around 4pm, so that is a difference of 30 minutes. I was to travel with them if I had delayed and hadn’t booked,” he said.
Mr Korir said the experience had left him reflecting on the journey he almost made with his fellow parishioners.
A vehicle assembly technician, he had travelled to Subukia to participate in the prayers and has since completed the pilgrimage.
He is now preparing to return home, but not before visiting his ailing parents, who are admitted to hospital.
For the father of three, the journey to Subukia ended safely, but the news awaiting him at the shrine has changed what was supposed to be a day of prayer and fellowship into one of mourning.
