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 CHESOLI

The 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.

A portrait of the
late Martha Nzyoki 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 CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Scholastica Ochieng 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 CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Sarapia Kitawa Mwarimbo 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 CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Beatrice Akinyi Madara 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 CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Veronica Ngandi 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 CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Catherine M. Joseph 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 CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Samuel Kilemba Mwanyasi 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 CHESOLI

Portraits of the 17
pilgrims who died in the Salama road crash displayed during their requiem Mass
at St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, on October 8,
2026. / JOHN CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Regina Mwai 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 CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Josephat Mekonge 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 CHESOLI

A portrait of the
late Samuel Muigai 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 CHESOLI

Family members, relatives and church members grief during the requiem
Mass for the 17 pilgrims who died in the Salama road crash at St Mathias
Mulumba Catholic Parish, Mikindani, Mombasa, on October 8, 2026. / JOHN CHESOLI

Family members, relatives and church members grief during the requiem
Mass for the 17 pilgrims who died in the Salama road crash at St Mathias
Mulumba Catholic Parish, Mikindani, Mombasa, on October 8, 2026. / JOHN CHESOLI

Family members, relatives and church members grief during the requiem
Mass for the 17 pilgrims who died in the Salama road crash at St Mathias
Mulumba Catholic Parish, Mikindani, Mombasa, on October 8, 2026. / JOHN CHESOLI

Family members, relatives and church members grief during the requiem
Mass for the 17 pilgrims who died in the Salama road crash at St Mathias
Mulumba Catholic Parish, Mikindani, Mombasa, on October 8, 2026. / JOHN CHESOLI

Bishop Dominic Kimengich leads 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 CHESOLI