The Mikindani Catholic grounds are accustomed to the vigorous stamping of football studs as 22 men chase a leather ball, watched closely by three officials.
But on Thursday, the grounds fell silent. It became an altar as more than 3,000 mourners gathered under tents, singing solemn hymns instead of football chants.
It was the requiem mass for 17 St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church, Mikindani parishioners, and the driver of the doomed van, who was an Anglican.
All 17 with rosaries in their pockets died in a road accident at Salama along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway in Makueni county, in the early hours of Saturday.
The pilgrims were travelling to Subukia for the annual National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Marian Shrine. Instead, their sacred journey became their final one.
Family, friends and faithful arrived carrying flowers, photographs and memories of their loved ones.
Portraits of the 17 were placed at the foot of the altar, with the bodies reportedly in a bad state after they were retrieved from the crash scene.
Relatives were overcome with emotion and often broke down in tears as religious leaders led by Mombasa Catholic Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Kimengich conducted the prayers.
“Their journey was not in vain,” Kimengich told the mourners.
“We believe they are in heaven, tasting the joy of the heavens. Every soul shall make that journey.”
Dean of the West Deanery Sylvanus Kizito said the pilgrims had left believing they would return home, unaware that their journey would instead end in death.
“They would have returned to tell us their testimonies of how Subukia was. Instead, we are gathered to tell testimonies of how they lived,” he said.
“They left us with pain. The pain of death. The pain of never getting to see them again.”
Joseph Mwathi, speaking on behalf of the bereaved families, said the deaths had dealt the families a devastating blow.
“But we accept the will of God,” he said.
The tragedy also brought together leaders from different faiths. Bishop Lambert Mbella of the Redeemed Gospel Church said the loss was not only for the Catholic Church but for the entire Mikindani community.
Rahma Shahbal, representing her husband, EALA lawmaker Suleiman Shahbal, told the families; “Your tears are our tears.”
She quoted the Quran: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” — from Allah we came, and to Allah we will return.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said the county was ready to support the bereaved families and the church.
“The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God... Even Jesus wept when Lazarus died. And if Jesus can weep, are we not to weep?” he said.
Area MP Badi Twalib said each bereaved family would receive a share of the Sh12.5 million provided by the State. The driver’s family had already received his share.
Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed pledged to educate Patience, daughter of one of the victims.
The requiem ended with mourners confronting the painful reality that the 17 who had set out together for Subukia would never return home.
