[PHOTOS] Archbishop Kivuva leads Catholics in Mombasa in marking Good Friday

Archbishop Martin Kivuva leads Catholic faithful during the Way of the Cross in Mombasa to mark Good Friday. /JOHN CHESOLI

Kenyans joined millions of Catholics worldwide on Friday to mark Good Friday, retracing the path of Jesus Christ in solemn observance of his suffering and sacrifice.

The annual Way of the Cross, or Via Crucis, brought together faithful in urban streets and rural villages, blending devotion with vivid, moving imagery.

Across cities, congregations carried wooden crosses through bustling streets, pausing at designated stations to kneel and offer prayers.

In quieter villages, the processions wound through dusty paths, with worshippers of all ages following behind, chanting hymns and reflecting on the pain endured by Christ.

The ritual, deeply symbolic, allowed participants to connect spiritually with the journey Jesus made to Calvary, emphasising sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemption.

In Mombasa, Archbishop Martin Kivuva led the faithful in a moving procession that drew large crowds.

Clad in ceremonial priestly robes, he guided worshippers from one station to the next, stopping to recite prayers that recalled the trials Jesus faced. 

Catholic faithful carry a cross during the Way of the Cross procession in Mombasa /JOHN CHESOLI

Catholic faithful kneel as they go through the process of the Way of the Cross in Mombasa /JOHN CHESOLI

Devotees knelt reverently at each station, their solemnity matched by the serene rhythm of the chants and the quiet murmur of collective reflection.

The atmosphere was both contemplative and communal, with families, youth groups and parish members participating in the ritual.

Along the streets, residents watched respectfully, some joining in spontaneously, highlighting the deep cultural and spiritual resonance of the event.

Catholic faithful take part in the Way of the Cross procession along Moi Avenue in Mombasa to commemorate the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. /JOHN CHESOLIArchbishop Martin Kivuva leads Catholic faithful during the Way of the Cross in Mombasa  /JOHN CHESOLI 

For many, the procession was not only a reenactment of historical events but also a personal journey, an opportunity to meditate on themes of compassion, endurance, and faith.

As the day unfolded, processions across Kenya mirrored the devotion seen worldwide, depicting shared reverence and spiritual reflection.

The faithful walked together in a timeless act of remembrance, bringing the story of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice to life with each step, each prayer, and each moment of reflection.

Catholic faithful led by Archbishop Martin Kivuva kneel as they go through the process of the Way of the Cross in Mombasa/JOHN CHESOLICatholic faithful take part in the Way of the Cross procession along Moi Avenue in Mombasa to commemorate the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. /JOHN CHESOLI

Catholic faithful led by Archbishop Martin Kivuva go through the process of the Way of the Cross in Mombasa /JOHN CHESOLI

The observance concluded with final prayers and blessings, leaving participants with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to their faith, carrying the lessons of Easter Friday into the days ahead.

Catholic faithful take part in the Way of the Cross procession along Moi Avenue in Mombasa to commemorate the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. /JOHN CHESOLI

Archbishop Martin Kivuva lead Catholic faithful through the Way of the Cross procession in Mombasa to mark Easter Friday. /JOHN CHESOLICatholic faithful led by Archbishop Martin Kivuva kneel as they go through the process of the Way of the Cross in Mombasa /JOHN CHESOLI