Mikindani Parish Priest Fr Maingi Narrates Final Moments With Salama Crash Victims

The Catholic community in Mombasa is mourning 17 pilgrims from St Mathias Mulumba Catholic Church in Mikindani who died in a road crash along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.

The pilgrims were travelling to the National Shrine in Subukia, Nakuru County, for the annual National Prayer Day when the crash occurred.

Mikindani Parish Priest Fr Patrick Maingi spoke about the victims as a grieving congregation gathered to mourn their deaths.

He remembered them as devoted members of the parish who took part in church activities and remained committed to their faith.

Fr Maingi also recalled conversations he had with some of the pilgrims before they left for the journey.

He said several of them had completed their church novenas and settled their monthly tithes before setting off. Others, he said, had taken care of personal and spiritual responsibilities ahead of the trip.

The priest recalled what some faithful told church administrators when they made their contributions for the journey.

According to Fr Maingi, they said they did not want to leave anything unsettled before travelling and wanted to be at peace.

The deaths have left families and members of the Mikindani parish community grieving. Some of those who died were active in church activities and had played important roles within the parish.

The Archdiocese of Mombasa and parish leaders have organised memorial Masses, rosary prayers and daily adoration as the community mourns.

Church officials are also working with county authorities and the Office of the Governor on post-mortem procedures and funeral arrangements for the victims.

Parishioners have been urged to remain united in prayer and support the bereaved families during the mourning period.