Family members and worshippers gather at St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church in Mikindani, Mombasa, on October 3, 2026. Photo/JOHN CHESOLIA requiem mass for the 17 Catholic pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa County, who died in a road accident while travelling to Subukia for the National Prayer Day, will be held on Thursday as families prepare to lay their loved ones to rest.
The Mass is scheduled to begin at 10am at the parish, with relatives, friends and fellow worshippers expected to gather to honour the deceased and pray for the souls of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Parish priest Father Patrick Maingi confirmed the arrangements on Wednesday morning, saying the church would come together to remember the departed parishioners.
“We will be having the requiem Mass for our departed brothers and sisters from 10am,” said Father Maingi.
The 17 died in the early hours of Saturday when the Toyota Hiace van they were travelling in crashed at Mlima Kiu near Salama along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway in Makueni County.
The pilgrims were headed to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the annual National Prayer Day when the journey ended in tragedy.
The deceased were identified as Janet Miitto, Florence Atieno, Jane Mwakamba, Josephat Mekonge, Hilkah Orina, Linah Akinyi, Veronicah Musyimi, Martha Nzyoki, Ann Mwanthi, and Sarapia Mwarimbo.
Others were Scholastica Ochieng, Catherine Joseph, Beatrice Oluoch, Veronica Ngandi, Regina Mwai, Samuel Muigai and the driver, Samuel Mwanyasi.
As preparations for their final send-off continue, the bodies have been transported to different mortuaries and family homes across the country in line with relatives’ wishes.
Nine of the bodies were transported to Mombasa on Monday morning after a church delegation travelled to Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital, where the victims had initially been taken for preservation and identification.
The team left Mombasa for Sultan Hamud on Saturday night, arriving around midnight. The identification exercise began on Sunday morning, with relatives and church representatives working to establish the identities of the victims and coordinate arrangements for their transfer.
Martin Obwaka, who led the team that travelled to Sultan Hamud to collect the bodies, said some families opted to have their loved ones taken directly to their rural homes to begin burial preparations after consultations.
The nine bodies transported to Mombasa were those of Jane Miito, Florence Atieno, Linah Akinyi, Martha Nzyoki, Ann Mwanthi, Sarapia Mwarimbo, Catherine Joseph, Beatrice Oluoch and Veronicah Ngandi.
They arrived in the coastal city on Monday morning and were taken to Jocham Hospital, where they are being preserved ahead of burial arrangements.
The other eight bodies were transported to different parts of the country as families made arrangements for the final send-off of their loved ones.
According to the church, Samuel Muigai’s body was taken directly from Sultan Hamud to Gatundu North Constituency, while that of Josephat Mekonge was transported to Kisii alongside Hilkah Orina’s.
Scholastica Ochieng’s body was taken to Nairobi for preservation before being transferred to Siaya County for burial.
The body of the van’s driver, Samuel Mwanyasi, was transported to Voi, as was that of Jane Mwakamba.
Regina Mwai’s body was taken to Karatina, while VeronicahMusyimi’s was transported to Mwala in Machakos County.
The movement of the bodies to different destinations has seen families begin preparations for burial, even as the Mikindani parish prepares to hold a collective requiem Mass for the 17 worshippers.
The Thursday service will provide an opportunity for the congregation to mourn together, remember those who died and stand in solidarity with families facing the painful task of laying their loved ones to rest.
