RIP: Beautiful Photos of Catholic Pilgrims Who Lost Their Lives While Heading to Subukia

A journey that began with faith, prayer and excitement ended in tragedy after 17 Catholic pilgrims from Mombasa lost their lives while travelling to Subukia for the annual National Prayer Day.

The pilgrims, drawn from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, were travelling in a Toyota Hiace when the vehicle was involved in a deadly accident at Mlima Kiu near Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in the early hours of Saturday.

They were among thousands of Catholic faithful who had travelled from different parts of the country to attend prayers at the Subukia National Shrine in Nakuru County.

For the 17 parishioners, however, the much-anticipated spiritual journey ended before they could reach their destination.

The victims were identified as Janet Miitto, Florence Atieno, Jane Mwakamba, Josephat Mekonge, Hilkah Orina, Linah Akinyi, Veronicah Musyimi, Martha Nzyoki and Ann Mwanthi.

The others were Sarapia Mwarimbo, Scholastica Ochieng, Catherine Joseph, Beatrice Oluoch, Veronica Ngandi, Regina Mwai, Samuel Muigai and Samuel Mwanyasi.

On Sunday, mourners gathered at St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish for a three-hour mass led by Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Kimengich.

What was expected to be a normal Sunday gathering instead became an emotional farewell as relatives, friends, church members and leaders came to mourn the 17 parishioners.

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