Mombasa Catholic Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Kimengich leads a solemn requiem mass in honour of the 17 pilgrims who tragically lost their lives while travelling to Subukia for their annual pilgrimage / JOHN CHESOLIFamilies of the 17 Catholic pilgrims killed in the Salama road crash have begun laying their loved ones to rest, with burials scheduled between October 9 and October 17.
The first burial was held on Friday, when Martha Nzyoki was laid to rest in Kitui.
Today, Janet Miitto will be buried in Kakamega, while Regina Mwai’s burial is scheduled to take place in Nyeri.
Three more families are expected to hold burial ceremonies tomorrow.
Catherine Joseph will be buried in Machakos, Samuel Muigai in Kiambu and the van’s driver, Samuel Mwanyasi, in Taita.
Ann Mwanthi’s burial is scheduled for Wednesday in Makueni.
On Friday, five victims are expected to be laid to rest in different counties.
Sarapia Mwarimbo and Jane Mwakamba will be buried in Taita Taveta, while Scholastica Ochieng will be laid to rest in Homa Bay.
Josephat Mekonge and Hilkah Orina are scheduled to be buried in Kisii.
Another five burials are planned for Saturday, marking the final day of the scheduled ceremonies.
Veronicah Musyimi will be buried in Machakos, Linah Akinyi and Beatrice Oluoch in Siaya, Veronica Ngandi in Busia, and Florence Atieno in Vihiga.
The burial arrangements follow a requiem mass held last Thursday at St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Parish in Mikindani, Mombasa, where relatives, parishioners and church leaders gathered to mourn the victims.
The service, led by Mombasa Coadjutor Archbishop Dominic Kimengich, brought together members of the Catholic community to honour the deceased and pray for their grieving families.
“Their journey was not in vain. We believe they are in heaven, tasting the joy of the heavens. Every soul shall make that journey,” the cleric said.
Political leaders, including Jomvu MP Badi Twalib, UDA secretary general Hassan Omar, EALA MP Suleiman Shahbal’s wife, Rahma Shahbal, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, his deputy, Francis Thoya, and Jubilee deputy party leader Beatrice Gambo, among others, attended the requiem mass on Thursday.
The 17 pilgrims died on October 3 when the Toyota Hiace van they were travelling in crashed at Mlima Kiu, near Salama, on the Nairobi–Mombasa highway in Makueni County.
They were heading to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the annual National Prayer Day when their journey ended in tragedy.
After the crash, the bodies were taken to Sultan Hamud Subcounty Hospital for preservation and identification before being released to their families for burial arrangements.
Church representatives and relatives coordinated the transportation of the bodies, with some families opting to have their loved ones taken directly to their rural homes.
Nine bodies were brought to Mombasa on October 5 and taken to Jocham Hospital for preservation.
The others were transported to different parts of the country in line with their families’ arrangements.
Instant analysis
The burials of the 17 Catholic pilgrims killed in the Salama road crash mark a painful period of mourning for their families and the wider Catholic community. With ceremonies scheduled across several counties, the tragedy has left families separated by distance but united in grief.
