Faces of 17 pilgrims revealed as Mombasa bids farewell at requiem Mass

A portrait of  late Florence Atieno Omollo is displayed during the requiem Mass for the 17 pilgrims who died in the Salama road crash at St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, on October 8, 2026. / JOHN CHESOLIThe faces of the 17 pilgrims who died in a road crash were displayed together as family members, relatives and fellow worshippers gathered for their requiem Mass at St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa.

The portraits offered a poignant reminder of the lives lost, as mourners gathered to honour the deceased and pray for their souls.

Among those remembered were Janet Miito, Florence Atieno, Jane Mwakamba, Josephat Mekonge, Hilkah Orina, Linah Akinyi, Veronicah Musyimi, Martha Nzyoki, Ann Mwanthi, Sarapia Mwarimbo, Scholastica Ochieng, Catherine Joseph, Beatrice Oluoch, Veronica Ngandi, Regina Mwai, Samuel Muigai and driver Samuel Mwanyasi.

The requiem Mass brought together relatives, parishioners and church leaders, with grief evident among those attending the service.

Some mourners wiped away tears, while others sat with bowed heads or rested their hands on their faces as they followed the proceedings.

For some, the service offered a moment to remember relatives and friends they had lost, while others gathered to stand with the bereaved families.

Coadjutor Archbishop of Mombasa Dominic Kimengich led the requiem Mass as the Catholic community gathered to bid farewell to the 17 pilgrims.

The pilgrims died on October 3 when the Toyota Hiace they were travelling in crashed at Mlima Kiu near Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in Makueni County.

They were travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the annual National Prayer Day.

The release of the victims’ portraits at the requiem Mass brought individual faces to the tragedy, allowing relatives and

The crash has since left families preparing to lay their loved ones to rest, with the bodies being transported to different destinations according to the wishes of their families.

At Mikindani, the requiem Mass provided a shared moment of prayer and remembrance as the parish community gathered to honour the 17 pilgrims and support their families through the final farewell.