Church bids farewell to 17 parishioners killed in crash
A requiem mass was held in Mikindani for 17 parishioners who died in a tragic road accident while traveling to a national pilgrimage. The community gathered to mourn the victims, whose lives were cut short during their journey to the Subukia National Marian Shrine.
Why it matters
The event highlights the significant impact of road safety issues in Kenya and the deep communal grief following a mass-casualty tragedy.
Mombasa Catholic Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Kimengich leads a requiem mass in honour of the 17 pilgrims who died while travelling to Subukia for their annual pilgrimage /JOHN CHESOLI
The Mikindani Catholic grounds are accustomed to the vigorous stamping of football studs as 22 men chase a leather ball, watched closely by three officials.
But on Thursday, the grounds fell silent. It became an altar as more than 3,000 mourners gathered under tents, singing solemn hymns instead of football chants.
It was the requiem mass for 17 St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani parishioners, and the driver of the doomed van, who was an Anglican.
All 17 with rosaries in their pockets died in a road accident at Salama along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway in Makueni county, in the early hours of Saturday.
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